485APOS 1 d485apos.htm AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2011

Securities Act File (No. 333-153445)

Investment Company Act File (No. 811-22235)

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

 

  

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES

ACT OF 1933

   x
   Pre-Effective Amendment No.    ¨
   Post-Effective Amendment No. 21    x
   and/or   
   REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE    x
   INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   
   Amendment No. 23    x
   (Check appropriate box or boxes)   

 

 

AQR Funds

(Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter)

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (203) 742-3600

Bradley D. Asness, Esq.

Principal & Chief Legal Officer

AQR Capital Management, LLC

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

With copies to:

Rose F. DiMartino, Esq.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

 

 

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

 

¨ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

 

x 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

 

¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

¨ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Title of Securities Being Registered: Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value, $0.001 per share.

 

 

 


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, dated May 3, 2011

AQR FUNDS

PROSPECTUS

[            ], 2011

CLASS N SHARES

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund

This prospectus contains important information about the Fund, including its investment objective, fees and expenses. For your benefit and protection, please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference. This prospectus relates only to the Class N Shares of the Fund.

 

Fund

   Ticker Symbol

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund

   [             ]

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. In addition, your investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND SUMMARY: AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

     1   

DETAILS ABOUT THE AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

     8   

HOW THE FUND PURSUES ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

     11   

RISK FACTORS

     12   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

     18   

INVESTING WITH THE AQR FUNDS

     20   

HOW TO BUY CLASS N SHARES

     24   

HOW TO REDEEM CLASS N SHARES

     26   

RULE 12B-1 PLAN

     28   

CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

     28   

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     29   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     31   

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

     32   


FUND SUMMARY: AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund seeks positive absolute returns.

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

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

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

     Class N

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

   None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the amount redeemed or original purchase cost)

   None

Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed or exchanged, only within 60 days)

   None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

     Class N  

Management Fee

     [        ]%   

Distribution (12b-1) fee

     [        ]%   

Other Expenses1

     [        ]%   

Other Expenses of the Subsidiary

     [        ]%   
        

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [        ]%   

Less: Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements2

     [        ]%   
        

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements

     [        ]%   

 

1 

Operating expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year because the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.

2 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual fund operating expenses at no more than [        ]% for Class N Shares (the “Fee Waiver Agreement”). This arrangement will continue at least through [May 1, 2012]. The Fee Waiver Agreement may only be terminated with the consent of the Board, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act and does not extend to interest, taxes, dividend expense, borrowing costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense relating to short sales and extraordinary expenses.

Example: This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and takes into account the effect of the Fee Waiver Agreement through [May 1, 2012], as discussed in Footnote No. 2 to the Fee Table. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 Year   3 Years

Class N Shares

   $     [    ]   $     [    ]

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.

 

1


PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUND

The Fund pursues its investment objective by aiming to provide exposure to several strategies often referred to as “alternative” or “absolute return” strategies and more traditionally made available through unregistered funds (“hedge funds”). Utilizing a well-diversified portfolio of Instruments (as defined below), the Fund seeks exposure to the following sub-strategies: Convertible Arbitrage, Event Driven (including Merger Arbitrage), Fixed Income Relative Value, Equity Market Neutral, Long/Short Equity, Dedicated Short Bias, Global Macro, Managed Futures and Emerging Markets. Through exposure to these sub-strategies, the Fund attempts to generate positive absolute returns over time. The Fund implements these sub-strategies by investing globally (including in emerging markets) in a broad range of instruments, including, but not limited to, equities, bonds, currencies, commodity indices, credit derivatives, convertible securities, futures, forwards, options, swaps and other derivative products (collectively, the “Instruments”), either by investing directly in these instruments or, indirectly, by investing in the Subsidiary (as described below) that invests in these instruments. The Fund currently intends to achieve its exposure to equities and convertible bonds by either holding securities or holding cash and using derivatives, rather than holding those securities directly. The Fund will not invest in hedge funds and is not designed to match the performance of any hedge fund index. However, the Adviser believes that, based on a comprehensive analysis of the key drivers of return from these sub-strategies, it can capture a meaningful portion of the return that these sub-strategies can be expected to provide. The Fund is generally intended to have a low average correlation to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will utilize proprietary trading algorithms in order to minimize market impact and reduce trading costs. The Adviser will attempt to mitigate risk through diversification of holdings and through active monitoring of volatility, counterparties and other risk measures. There is no assurance, however, that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

The sub-strategies employed by the Fund include:

 

   

Long/Short Equity, Equity Market Neutral and Dedicated Short Bias: These sub-strategies provide long and short exposure to a diversified portfolio of equities which involves simultaneously investing in equities (i.e., investing long) the Adviser expects to increase in value and immediately selling equities (i.e., short sales or short selling) the Adviser expects to decrease in value. Equity Market Neutral is not expected to have industry overweights and seeks to profit by exploiting pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. Long/Short Equity may maintain overweights of industry exposures and also seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities. The Dedicated Short Bias sub-strategy seeks to profit by shorting stocks that have negative market sentiment and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. When taking a “short” position, the Fund may sell an instrument that it does not own and would then borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may also take “short” positions in futures, forwards or swaps. A “short” position will benefit from a decrease in price of the underlying instrument and will lose value if the price of the underlying instrument increases. Long positions will profit if the value of the equity security increases and short positions will profit if the value of the equity security declines and the borrowed shares can be replaced at lower cost. Simultaneously engaging in long investing and short selling reduces the net exposure of the overall portfolio to general market movements.

 

   

Global Macro: Global Macro strategies seek to profit from movement in the prices of securities that are highly sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, across a broad spectrum of assets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country equities, currencies, bonds and commodities markets.

 

   

Emerging Markets: This sub-strategy seeks to profit from investing in equities and currencies of issuers in emerging markets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets, and long and short exposure to a basket of liquid equity securities traded on emerging and developed market exchanges.

 

   

Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible Arbitrage strategies seek to profit from the complexity of the pricing of convertible bonds (which contain elements of both a fixed income security and an equity option) by structuring trades using multiple securities within the capital structure of a convertible bond issuer. The Fund may purchase the convertible bond of a given issuer and simultaneously sell short the common stock of that same issuer to take advantage of a mispricing of either security. This sub-strategy takes positions in various global convertible debt and preferred securities and an offsetting position in various global equities directly linked to the convertible securities. In implementing this sub-strategy, the Fund may use derivatives to hedge against a decline in interest rates or credit exposure. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

   

Managed Futures: Managed Futures strategies seek to profit from the design and implementation of quantitative selection models to help predict upcoming movements in any combination of fixed income, currency, commodity or equity markets. This sub- strategy provides long and short exposure to commodities; long and short exposure to developed country equities, bonds and currencies markets and long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets.

 

   

Event Driven: Event Driven strategies seek to profit from investing in the securities of companies based not on a value or growth investment style but rather on the basis that a specific event or catalyst will affect future prices. This sub-strategy attempts to capitalize on price discrepancies and returns generated by corporate activity, such as merger arbitrage. In merger arbitrage, the Fund will employ a diversified, disciplined strategy to attempt to capture the returns from holding a long/short portfolio of stocks of companies involved in mergers. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

   

Fixed Income Relative Value: Fixed Income Relative Value seeks to profit from exploiting mispricing of various, liquid fixed income or interest rate sensitive securities. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country bond and currency markets, long and short exposure to investment grade credit markets and long and short exposure to forward mortgage-backed securities trading in the to be announced (“TBA”) market.

The Fund provides exposure to several absolute return strategies through one fund offering. The Fund may add additional sub-strategies from time to time. The Fund currently intends to have exposure to each of the sub-strategies, however, it may vary its level of allocation among the sub-strategies depending on market conditions, including reducing the exposure to any sub-strategy to zero.

The Adviser applies a systematic and disciplined process to its investment and risk management. Decisions are made based on a fundamental, research-driven process, where quantitative tools are applied to structure and rebalance portfolios and trade securities.

The Adviser expects the Fund’s NAV over short-term periods to be volatile because of the significant use of Instruments that have a leveraging effect. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. Rapid and dramatic price swings will result in high volatility. The Fund’s returns are expected to be volatile; however, the Adviser, on average, will target an annualized volatility level for the Fund of [    ]%. However, the actual or realized volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. Actual or realized volatility can and will differ from the forecasted or target volatility described above.

If derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less are taken into account, the Fund’s strategy will result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than [        ]%).

Portfolio Construction

The Fund is constructed, at both the strategy level and the portfolio level, to provide returns that are not correlated to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will be managed to be broadly diversified across a range of global markets. In addition, the Fund is monitored to avoid traditional long equity market exposure at the overall portfolio level, while at times allowing modest active long or short equity market exposure through tactical decisions.

Strategy Level

Each of the sub-strategies is constructed using a bottom up systematic process. In addition, two or more sub-strategies may be used in combination to achieve a particular investment exposure or goal. Although the overall Fund is designed to be equity market neutral on average over time, unless the Fund is tactically positioned for a long or short equity market exposure, at the sub-strategy level, the Fund may have equity-based systematic risk. For example, the equity long/short sub-strategy will typically have a slightly net long equity market exposure (depending on the market’s recent performance), while the dedicated short bias sub-strategy is expected to have a slightly negative net equity market exposure. The equity market neutral sub-strategy, on the other hand, is intended to be equity market neutral at all times. Although the Fund may simultaneously use one type of exposure in more than one sub-strategy (e.g. use long exposure to developed market equities for the Global Macro and Managed Futures sub-strategies), the exposure will be independently selected to achieve the goal of the particular sub-strategy.

Portfolio Level

Once each sub-strategy has been individually constructed or groupings of sub-strategies developed, the Adviser combines them into a single portfolio using a long term strategic risk weighting process and a tactical risk allocation. By combining these two methods, the Adviser seeks to implement the overall strategy while opportunistically taking advantage of strategies that are particularly attractive currently. In general, however, the Adviser’s portfolio construction process focuses on adding value through diversified risk weighting over the long-term.

 

2


Sizing Positions

The Adviser sets both the long-term strategic risk weights across the individual sub-strategies or grouped sub-strategies, which are expected to vary only slightly over time, as well as short-term tactical weightings which may deviate from the long-term strategic targets due to shorter term market risks or opportunities. Both the long-term strategic risk weights and the shorter term tactical shifts are determined by the Adviser using quantitative inputs and subjective assessment of the current market environment. The short-term tactical underweights or overweights are intended to vary only modestly from the strategic weights. However, there is no limit on the tactical underweights or overweights and the Adviser has the discretion to not employ a sub-strategy either temporarily or permanently if the perceived risks of the sub-strategy outweigh the potential benefits.

Risk Management

The Adviser will use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the level of risk (i.e., volatility of return) for the Fund. The Adviser expects that the use of systematic risk control generally should lead to a highly diversified portfolio across asset classes, geographies, Instruments and sub-strategies.

The Fund currently intends to invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company. Generally, the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity index swaps and other commodity-linked derivative instruments but it may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. The Fund will invest in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Fund’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary and does not expect shares of the Subsidiary to be offered or sold to other investors.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. The following is a summary description of certain risks of investing in the Fund.

Arbitrage or Fundamental Risk: Employing arbitrage and alternative strategies has the risk that anticipated opportunities do not play out as planned, resulting in potentially reduced returns or losses to the Fund as it unwinds failed trades.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.

Common Stock Risk: Common stocks are subject to greater fluctuations in market value than other asset classes as a result of such factors as a company’s business performance, investor perceptions, stock market trends and general economic conditions.

Convertible Securities Risk: The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.

Counterparty Risk: In general, a derivative contract typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. Many of these derivative contracts will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. If a privately negotiated over-the-counter contract calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the Fund may not receive payments owed under the contract, or such payments may be delayed under such circumstances and the value of agreements with such counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses by the Fund.

 

3


Credit Default Swap Agreements Risk: The Fund intends to enter into credit default swap agreements, credit default index swap agreements and similar agreements as a protection “seller” in order to gain exposure to the credit risk of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed income securities and sovereign debt, as well as mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also be a “buyer” of credit protection. Credit default swap agreements involve special risks because they may be difficult to value, are highly susceptible to liquidity and credit risk, and generally pay a return to the party that has paid the premium only in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial difficulty).

Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. Securities rated in the four highest categories by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.

Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. The liquidity and trading value of foreign currencies could be affected by global economic factors, such as inflation, interest rate levels, and trade balances among countries, as well as the actions of sovereign governments. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses. The Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivative instruments exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs. These instruments come in many varieties and have a wide range of potential risks and rewards, and may include futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options (both written and purchased), swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets.

Emerging Market Risk: The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets. Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:

 

   

The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.

 

   

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

   

The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

 

   

The governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investments in their capital markets or in certain industries.

 

   

Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.

 

   

Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.

Forward and Futures Contract Risk: The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

 

4


Hedging Transactions Risk: The Adviser and Sub-Adviser, from time to time, employ various hedging techniques. The success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will be subject to the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk: To the extent that a Fund makes investments on a shorter-term basis (including in derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less) the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of fixed income securities generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when interest rates increase. The Fund may lose money if short term or long term interest rates rise sharply or otherwise change in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser.

Leverage Risk: As part of the Fund’s principal investment strategy, the Fund will make investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps and other derivative instruments. The futures contracts and certain other derivatives provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If the Fund uses leverage through activities such as borrowing, entering into short sales, purchasing securities on margin or on a “when-issued” basis or purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, the Fund has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by borrowings or the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the Fund. The net asset value of the Fund employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest.

Manager Risk: If the Fund’s portfolio managers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance.

Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that the markets on which the Fund’s investments trade will increase or decrease in value. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, your investment in the Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Model and Data Risk: Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser rellies heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the Adviser, and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments, to provide risk management insights, and to assist in hedging the Fund’s investments.

When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful. Some of the models used by the Adviser for the Fund are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. Because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.

All models rely on correct market data inputs. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded model, the resulting information will be incorrect. However, even if market data is input correctly, “model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics, such as derivative securities.

Momentum Style Risk: Investing in securities with positive Momentum entails investing in securities that have had above-average recent returns. These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities. In addition, there may be periods when the Momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of a Fund using a Momentum strategy may suffer.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-related and other mortgage-backed securities are subject to certain risks, including “extension risk” (i.e., in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may pay principal later than expected) and “prepayment risk” (i.e., in periods of declining interest rates, issuers may pay principal more quickly than expected, causing the Fund to reinvest proceeds at lower prevailing interest rates). Exposure to mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers are subject to other risks as well, including failures of private insurers to meet their obligations and unexpectedly high rates of default on the mortgages backing the securities.

 

5


New Fund Risk: The Fund is newly-formed. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, and may not employ a successful investment strategy, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders.

Non-Diversified Status Risk: The Fund is a non-diversified fund. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may, therefore, have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

Short Sale Risk: The Fund enters into a short sale by selling a security it has borrowed (typically from a broker or other institution). If the market price of a security increases after the Fund borrows the security, the Fund will suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss when it replaces the borrowed security at the higher price. In certain cases, purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. In addition, a Fund may not always be able to borrow the security at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Fund may also take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument. Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential Fund gains and increase potential Fund losses.

Sovereign Debt Risk: These investments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected.

Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund (see “Commodities Risk” above). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund.

Swap Agreements Risk: Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom a Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund and the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the other party to the agreement.

Tax Risk: In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from qualifying income, which is described in more detail in the SAI. Income from certain commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the Fund invests is not considered qualifying income. The Fund will therefore restrict its income from commodity-linked derivative instruments that do not generate qualifying income, such as commodity-linked swaps, to a maximum of 10 percent of its gross income.

The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M. The annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ true business values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during given periods.

 

6


Volatility Risk: The Fund may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to experience significant appreciations or decreases in value over short periods of time.

U.S. Government Securities Risk: Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Certain of the government agency securities the Fund may purchase are backed only by the credit of the government agency and not by full faith and credit of the United States.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, no full calendar year performance information is available.

INVESTMENT MANAGER

The Fund’s investment manager is AQR Capital Management, LLC. CNH Partners, LLC is the Sub-Adviser of certain sub-strategies of the Fund.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Name   

Portfolio Manager

of the Fund Since

  Title

Of the Adviser

        

John M. Liew, Ph.D.

   [            ], 2011         Founding Principal of the Adviser

Jacques Friedman

   [            ], 2011         Principal of the Adviser

Ronen Israel

   [            ], 2011         Principal of the Adviser

Lars Nielsen

   [            ], 2011         Principal of the Adviser

Of the Sub-Adviser

        

Mark Mitchell, Ph.D.

   [            ], 2011         Principal of the Sub-Adviser

Todd Pulvino, Ph.D.

   [            ], 2011         Principal of the Sub-Adviser

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

You may purchase or redeem Class N Shares of the Fund each day the NYSE is open. To purchase or redeem shares you should contact your financial intermediary, or, if you hold your shares through the Fund, you should contact the Fund by phone at 1-866-290-2688, by mail (c/o AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248), or by the Internet at www.aqrfunds.com. The Fund’s initial and subsequent investment minimums for Class N Shares generally are as follows:

 

     Class N Shares
   
Minimum Initial Investment    $1,000,000
   
Minimum Subsequent Investment    None

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund’s dividends and distributions may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan, in which case you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER/DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Fund and the Adviser, or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial professional or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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DETAILS ABOUT THE AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund seeks positive absolute returns.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund pursues its investment objective by aiming to provide exposure to several strategies often referred to as “alternative” or “absolute return” strategies and more traditionally made available through unregistered funds (“hedge funds”). Utilizing a well-diversified portfolio of Instruments (as defined below), the Fund seeks exposure to the following sub-strategies: Convertible Arbitrage, Event Driven (including Merger Arbitrage), Fixed Income Relative Value, Equity Market Neutral, Long/Short Equity, Dedicated Short Bias, Global Macro, Managed Futures and Emerging Markets. Through exposure to these sub-strategies, the Fund attempts to generate positive absolute returns over time. The Fund implements these sub-strategies by investing globally (including in emerging markets) in a broad range of instruments, including, but not limited to, equities, bonds, currencies, commodity indices, credit derivatives, convertible securities, futures, forwards, options, swaps and other derivative products (collectively, the “Instruments”), either by investing directly in these instruments or, indirectly, by investing in the Subsidiary (as described below) that invests in these instruments. The Fund currently intends to achieve its exposure to equities and convertible bonds by either holding securities or holding cash and using derivatives, rather than holding those securities directly. The Fund will not invest in hedge funds and is not designed to match the performance of any hedge fund index. However, the Adviser believes that, based on a comprehensive analysis of the key drivers of return from these sub-strategies, it can capture a meaningful portion of the return that these sub-strategies can be expected to provide. The Fund is generally intended to have a low average correlation to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will utilize proprietary trading algorithms in order to minimize market impact and reduce trading costs. The Adviser will attempt to mitigate risk through diversification of holdings and through active monitoring of volatility, counterparties and other risk measures. There is no assurance, however, that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

The sub-strategies employed by the Fund include:

 

 

Long/Short Equity, Equity Market Neutral and Dedicated Short Bias: These sub-strategies provide long and short exposure to a diversified portfolio of equities which involves simultaneously investing in equities (i.e., investing long) the Adviser expects to increase in value and immediately selling equities (i.e., short sales or short selling) the Adviser expects to decrease in value. Equity Market Neutral is not expected to have industry overweights and seeks to profit by exploiting pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. Long/Short Equity may maintain overweights of industry exposures and also seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities. The Dedicated Short Bias sub-strategy seeks to profit by shorting stocks that have negative market sentiment and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. When taking a “short” position, the Fund may sell an instrument that it does not own and would then borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may also take “short” positions in futures, forwards or swaps. A “short” position will benefit from a decrease in price of the underlying instrument and will lose value if the price of the underlying instrument increases. Long positions will profit if the value of the equity security increases and short positions will profit if the value of the equity security declines and the borrowed shares can be replaced at lower cost. Simultaneously engaging in long investing and short selling reduces the net exposure of the overall portfolio to general market movements.

 

 

Global Macro: Global Macro strategies seek to profit from movement in the prices of securities that are highly sensitive to macro-economic conditions, across a broad spectrum of assets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country equities, currencies, bonds and commodities markets.

 

 

Emerging Markets: This sub-strategy seeks to profit from investing in equities and currencies of issuers in emerging markets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets, and long and short exposure to a basket of liquid equity securities traded on emerging and developed market exchanges.

 

 

Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible Arbitrage strategies seek to profit from the complexity of the pricing of convertible bonds (which contain elements of both a fixed income security and an equity option) by structuring trades using multiple securities within the capital structure of a convertible bond issuer. The Fund may purchase the convertible bond of a given issuer and simultaneously sell short the common stock of that same issuer to take advantage of a mispricing of either security. This sub-strategy takes positions in various global convertible debt and preferred securities and an offsetting position in various global equities directly linked to the convertible securities. In implementing this sub-strategy, the Fund may use derivatives to hedge against a decline in interest rates or credit exposure. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

 

Managed Futures: Managed Futures strategies seek to profit from the design and implementation of quantitative selection models to help predict upcoming movements in any combination of fixed income, currency, commodity or equity markets. This sub-

 

8


 

strategy provides long and short exposure to commodities; long and short exposure to developed country equities, bonds and currencies markets and long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets.

 

 

Event Driven: Event Driven strategies seek to profit from investing in the securities of companies based not on a value or growth investment style but rather on the basis that a specific event or catalyst will affect future prices. This sub-strategy attempts to capitalize on price discrepancies and returns generated by corporate activity, such as merger arbitrage. In merger arbitrage, the Fund will employ a diversified, disciplined strategy to attempt to capture the returns from holding a long/short portfolio of stocks of companies involved in mergers. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

 

Fixed Income Relative Value: Fixed Income Relative Value seeks to profit from exploiting mispricing of various, liquid fixed income or interest rate sensitive securities. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country bond and currency markets, long and short exposure to investment grade credit markets and long and short exposure to forward mortgage-backed securities trading in the to be announced (“TBA”) market.

The Fund provides exposure to several absolute return strategies through one fund offering. The Fund may add additional sub-strategies from time to time. The Fund currently intends to have exposure to each of the sub-strategies, however, it may vary its level of allocation among the sub-strategies depending on market conditions, including reducing the exposure to any sub-strategy to zero.

The Adviser applies a systematic and disciplined process to its investment and risk management. Decisions are made based on a fundamental, research-driven process, where quantitative tools are applied to structure and rebalance portfolios and trade securities.

The Adviser expects the Fund’s NAV over short-term periods to be volatile because of the significant use of Instruments that have a leveraging effect. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. Rapid and dramatic price swings will result in high volatility. The Fund’s returns are expected to be volatile; however, the Adviser, on average, will target an annualized volatility level for the Fund of [    ]%. However, the actual or realized volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. Actual or realized volatility can and will differ from the forecasted or target volatility described above.

If derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less are taken into account, the Fund’s strategy will result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than [    ]%).

Portfolio Construction

The Fund is constructed, at both the strategy level and the portfolio level, to provide returns that are not correlated to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will be managed to be broadly diversified across a range of global markets. In addition, the Fund is monitored to avoid traditional long equity market exposure at the overall portfolio level, while at times allowing modest active long or short equity market exposure through tactical decisions.

Strategy Level

Each of the sub-strategies is constructed using a bottom up systematic process. In addition, two or more sub-strategies may be used in combination to achieve a particular investment exposure or goal. Although the overall Fund is designed to be equity market neutral on average over time, unless the Fund is tactically positioned for a long or short equity market exposure, at the sub-strategy level, the Fund may have equity-based systematic risk. For example, the equity long/short sub-strategy will typically have a slightly net long equity market exposure (depending on the market’s recent performance), while the dedicated short bias sub-strategy is expected to have a slightly negative net equity market exposure. The equity market neutral sub-strategy, on the other hand, is intended to be equity market neutral at all times. Although the Fund may simultaneously use one type of exposure in more than one sub-strategy (e.g. use long exposure to developed market equities for the Global Macro and Managed Futures sub-strategies), the exposure will be independently selected to achieve the goal of the particular sub-strategy.

Portfolio Level

Once each sub-strategy has been individually constructed or groupings of sub-strategies developed, the Adviser combines them into a single portfolio using a long term strategic risk weighting process and a tactical risk allocation. By combining these two methods, the Adviser seeks to implement the overall strategy while opportunistically taking advantage of strategies that are particularly attractive currently. In general, however, the Adviser’s portfolio construction process focuses on adding value through diversified risk weighting over the long-term.

 

9


Sizing Positions

The Adviser sets both the long-term strategic risk weights across the individual sub-strategies or grouped sub-strategies, which are expected to vary only slightly over time, as well as short-term tactical weightings which may deviate from the long-term strategic targets due to shorter term market risks or opportunities. Both the long-term strategic risk weights and the shorter term tactical shifts are determined by the Adviser using quantitative inputs and subjective assessment of the current market environment. The short-term tactical underweights or overweights are intended to vary only modestly from the strategic weights. However, there is no limit on the tactical underweights or overweights and the Adviser has the discretion to not employ a sub-strategy either temporarily or permanently if the perceived risks of the sub-strategy outweigh the potential benefits.

Risk Management

The Adviser will use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the level of risk (i.e., volatility of return) for the Fund. The Adviser expects that the use of systematic risk control generally should lead to a highly diversified portfolio across asset classes, geographies, Instruments and sub-strategies.

The Fund currently intends to invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company. Generally, the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity index swaps and other commodity-linked derivative instruments but it may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. The Fund will invest in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Fund’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary and does not expect shares of the Subsidiary to be offered or sold to other investors.

 

10


HOW THE FUND PURSUES ITS

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

Glossary. To keep things simple, we have defined and explained a number of terms and concepts in a Glossary at the back of this prospectus. Terms that are in italics have definitions or explanations in the Glossary.

INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

In addition to the principal investment strategies described above, the Fund may employ the following technique in pursuing its investment objectives.

Segregation of Assets. As an open-end investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various SEC and SEC staff interpretive positions. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, the Fund must “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivatives instruments. In the case of forwards contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, for example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value while the positions are open. With respect to forward contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.

The Fund generally will use its money market instruments to cover its obligations as required by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable SEC and SEC staff positions. As a result of their segregation, the short-term debt securities (or any other liquid asset segregated) may not be used for other operational purposes. The Adviser will monitor the Fund’s use of derivatives and will take action as necessary for the purpose of complying with the asset segregation policy stated above. Such actions may include the sale of the Fund’s portfolio investments.

Securities Lending. To attempt to increase its income or total return, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to certain types of eligible borrowers. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to certain types of eligible borrowers in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its total assets, which may include collateral. Each loan will be secured continuously by collateral in the form of cash, high quality money market instruments or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Collateral will be received and maintained by the Fund’s custodian concurrent with delivery of the loaned securities and kept in a segregated account or designated on the records of the custodian for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund has a right to call a loan at any time and require the borrower to redeliver the borrowed securities to the Fund within the settlement time specified in the loan agreement or be subject to a “buy in”. The Fund will generally not have the right to vote securities while they are being loaned, but it is expected that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, will call a loan in anticipation of any important vote. Securities lending will be conducted by a securities lending agent approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The securities lending agent maintains a list of broker-dealers, banks or other institutions that it has determined to be creditworthy. The Fund will only enter into loan arrangements with borrowers on the approved list.

 

11


RISK FACTORS

All investments, including those in mutual funds, have risks, and no one investment is suitable for all investors. The Fund is intended for long-term investors. Your investment may be subject to the risks described below if you invest in the Fund, based on the risks identified for the Fund in that Fund’s description above.

Arbitrage or Fundamental Risk: A Fund employing arbitrage and alternative strategies has the risk that anticipated opportunities do not play out as planned, resulting in potentially reduced returns or losses to the Fund as it unwinds failed trades. For example, with respect to the convertible arbitrage strategy described under “Details About the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund”, an issuer may default or may be unable to make interest and dividend payments when due. With respect to the merger arbitrage strategy, the merger deal may terminate prior to closing, thereby imposing losses to the Fund. Arbitrage or fundamental risk may exist for other strategies employed by the Fund.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.

Common Stock Risk: The Fund invests significantly in common stocks, which are a type of equity security that represents an ownership interest in a corporation. Common stocks are subject to greater fluctuations in market value than other asset classes as a result of such factors as a company’s business performance, investor perceptions, stock market trends and general economic conditions. The rights of common stockholders are subordinate to all other claims on a company’s assets, including debt holders and preferred stockholders. Therefore, the Fund could lose money if a company in which it invests becomes financially distressed.

Convertible Securities Risk: The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.

Counterparty Risk: The Fund may enter into various types of derivative contracts as described below. Many of these derivative contracts will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. If a privately negotiated over-the-counter contract calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the Fund may not receive payments owed under the contract, or such payments may be delayed under such circumstances and the value of agreements with such counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses by the Fund.

Credit Default Swap Agreements Risk: The Fund intends to enter into credit default swap agreements, credit default index swap agreements and similar agreements as a protection “seller” in order to gain exposure to the credit risk of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed income securities and sovereign debt, as well as mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also be a “buyer” of credit protection. The credit default swap agreement or similar instruments may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap agreement is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement, provided generally that no credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. In addition, at the inception of the agreement, the protection “buyer” may receive or be obligated to pay an additional up-front amount depending on the current market value of the contract. If a credit event occurs, an auction process is used to determine the “recovery value” of the contract. The seller then must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund’s net cash flows over the life of the contract will be the initial up-front amount paid or received minus the sum of the periodic payments made over the life of the contract. However, if a credit event occurs, the Fund may elect to receive a cash amount equal to the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. In addition, at the inception of the agreement, the Fund may receive or be obligated to pay an additional up-front amount depending on the current market value of the contract. If a credit event occurs, the Fund will be generally obligated to pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. Credit default swaps could result in losses if the Adviser does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the underlying instrument on which the credit default swap is based. Additionally, if the Fund is a seller of a credit default swap and a credit event occurs, the Fund could suffer significant losses.

Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the

 

12


value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation. Securities rated in the four highest categories (Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) (AAA, AA, A and BBB), Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) (AAA, AA, A and BBB) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (Aaa, Aa, A and Baa)) by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics, meaning that they carry more risk than higher rated securities and may have problems making principal and interest payments in difficult economic climates. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.

Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses. The Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

Currency exchange rates may be particularly affected by the relative rates of inflation, interest rate levels, the balance of payments and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in such foreign countries and in the United States, all of which are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of such foreign countries, the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance. Governments may use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by their central bank or imposition of regulatory controls or taxes, to affect the exchange rates of their respective currencies. They may also issue a new currency to replace an existing currency or alter the exchange rate or relative exchange characteristics by devaluation or revaluation of a currency. The liquidity and trading value of these foreign currencies could be affected by the actions of sovereign governments, which could change or interfere with theretofore freely determined currency valuation, fluctuations in response to other market forces and the movement of currencies across borders.

Derivatives Risk: The Adviser may make use of futures, forwards, swaps and other forms of derivative contracts. In general, a derivative contract (including options, as described below) typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. The use of derivative instruments also exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs. These instruments come in many varieties and have a wide range of potential risks and rewards, and may include futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options (both written and purchased), swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. Risks of these instruments include:

 

   

that interest rates, securities prices and currency markets will not move in the direction that the portfolio managers anticipate;

 

   

that prices of the instruments and the prices of underlying securities, interest rates or currencies they are designed to reflect do not move together as expected;

 

   

that the skills needed to use these strategies are different than those needed to select portfolio securities;

 

   

the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument and, for exchange-traded instruments, possible exchange-imposed price fluctuation limits, either of which may make it difficult or impossible to close out a position when desired;

 

   

that adverse price movements in an instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the Fund’s initial investment in that instrument (in some cases, the potential loss is unlimited);

 

   

particularly in the case of privately-negotiated instruments, that the counterparty will not perform its obligations, which could leave the Fund worse off than if it had not entered into the position;

 

   

the inability to close out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences, and the fact that some of these instruments, such as credit default swaps, may have uncertain tax implications for the Fund;

 

   

the fact that “speculative position limits” imposed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and certain futures exchanges on net long and short positions may require the Fund to limit or unravel positions in certain types of instruments; and

 

   

the high levels of volatility some of these instruments may exhibit, in some cases due to the high levels of leverage an investor may achieve with them.

Emerging Market Risk: The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets. Investing in emerging markets will, among other things, expose the Fund to all the risks described below in the Foreign Securities Risk section, and you should review that section carefully. However, there are greater risks involved in investing in emerging market countries and/or their securities markets than there are in more developed countries and/or markets. Generally, economic structures in these countries are less diverse and mature than those in developed countries, and their political systems are less stable. Investments in emerging market countries may be affected by national policies that restrict foreign investment in certain issuers or industries. The small size of their securities markets and low trading volumes can make investments illiquid and more volatile than investments in developed countries and such securities may be subject to abrupt and severe price declines. The Fund may be required to establish special custody or other arrangements before investing. In addition, because the securities settlement procedures are less developed in these countries, the Fund may be

 

13


required to deliver securities before receiving payment and may also be unable to complete transactions during market disruptions. The possible establishment of exchange controls or freezes on the convertibility of currency might adversely affect an investment in foreign securities.

Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund’s investments in foreign securities, including depositary receipts, involve risks not associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets. There may be difficulties enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for trades to clear and settle. The specific risks of investing in foreign securities, among others, include:

 

   

Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses. To the extent that a Fund is invested in foreign securities while also maintaining currency positions, it may be exposed to greater combined risk. A Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

 

   

Geographic Risk: If the Fund concentrates its investments in issuers located or doing business in any country or region, factors adversely affecting that country or region will affect the Fund’s net asset value more than would be the case if the Fund had made more geographically diverse investments. The economies and financial markets of certain regions, such as Latin America or Asia, can be highly interdependent and decline all at the same time.

 

   

Political/Economic Risk: Changes in economic and tax policies, government instability, war or other political or economic actions or factors may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s foreign investments, potentially including expropriation and nationalization, confiscatory taxation, and the potential difficulty of repatriating funds to the United States.

 

   

Regulatory Risk: Issuers of foreign securities and foreign securities markets are generally not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. issuers and U.S. securities markets. The reporting, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries may differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards.

 

   

Transaction Costs Risk: The costs of buying and selling foreign securities, including tax, brokerage and custody costs, generally are higher than those involving domestic transactions.

 

   

Use of Foreign Currency Forward Agreements: Foreign currency forward prices are influenced by, among other things, changes in balances of payments and trade, domestic and international rates of inflation, international trade restrictions and currency devaluations and revaluations. Investments in currency forward contracts may cause the Fund to maintain net short positions in any currency, including home country currency. In other words, the total value of short exposure to such currency (such as short spot and forward positions in such currency) may exceed the total value of long exposure to such currency (such as long individual equity positions, long spot and forward positions in such currency).

Forward and Futures Contract Risk: The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Hedging Transactions Risk: The Adviser and Sub-Adviser, from time to time, employ various hedging techniques. The success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will be subject to the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner.

Hedging against a decline in the value of a portfolio position does not eliminate fluctuations in the values of those portfolio positions or prevent losses if the values of those positions decline. Rather, it establishes other positions designed to gain from those same declines, thus seeking to moderate the decline in the portfolio position’s value. Such hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of the portfolio position should increase. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser may determine, in its sole

 

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discretion, not to hedge against certain risks and certain risks may exist that cannot be hedged. Furthermore, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not anticipate a particular risk so as to hedge against it effectively. Hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of a hedged portfolio position should increase.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk: To the extent that the Fund makes investments on a shorter-term basis (including in derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less) the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of fixed income securities generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when interest rates increase. Prices of longer term securities generally change more in response to interest rate changes than prices of shorter term securities. The Fund may lose money if short term or long term interest rates rise sharply or otherwise change in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser.

Leverage Risk: If the Fund makes investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps and other derivative instruments, these instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If the Fund uses leverage through activities such as borrowing, entering into short sales, purchasing securities on margin or on a “when-issued” basis or purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, the Fund has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by borrowings or the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the Fund. The net asset value of the Fund employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest.

Manager Risk: If the Fund’s portfolio managers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance.

Market Risk: The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the risk that the markets on which the Fund’s investments trade will increase or decrease in value. Market risk applies to every Fund investment. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, your investment in the Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Model and Data Risk: Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the Adviser, and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments, to provide risk management insights, and to assist in hedging the Fund’s investments.

When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. For example, by relying on Models and Data, the Adviser may be induced to buy certain investments at prices that are too high, to sell certain other investments at prices that are too low, or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful.

Some of the models used by the Adviser for one or more Funds are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. For example, such models may incorrectly forecast future behavior, leading to potential losses on a cash flow and/or a mark-to-market basis. In addition, in unforeseen or certain low-probability scenarios (often involving a market disruption of some kind), such models may produce unexpected results, which can result in losses for the Fund. Furthermore, because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.

All models rely on correct market data inputs. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded model, the resulting information will be incorrect. However, even if market data is input correctly, “model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics, such as derivative securities.

Momentum Style Risk: Investing in securities with positive Momentum entails investing in securities that have had above-average recent returns. These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities. In addition, there may be periods when the Momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of a Fund using a Momentum strategy may suffer.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-related and other mortgage-backed securities are subject to certain risks, including “extension risk” (i.e., in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may pay principal later than expected) and “prepayment risk” (i.e., in periods of declining interest rates, issuers may pay principal more quickly than expected, causing the Fund to reinvest proceeds at lower prevailing interest rates). Exposure to mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers are subject to other risks as well, including failures of private insurers to meet their obligations and unexpectedly high rates of default on the mortgages backing the securities.

 

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New Fund Risk: The Fund is newly-formed, and the Adviser has not previously served as the primary adviser to an investment company registered under the 1940 Act. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, and may not employ a successful investment strategy, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders.

Non-Diversified Status Risk: The Fund is a non-diversified fund. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may, therefore, have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

Short Sale Risk: A Fund enters into a short sale by selling a security it has borrowed (typically from a broker or other institution). If the market price of a security increases after a Fund borrows the security, the Fund will suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss when it replaces the borrowed security at the higher price. In certain cases, purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. In addition, a Fund may not always be able to borrow the security at a particular time or at an acceptable price. Before a Fund replaces a borrowed security, it is required to designate on its books cash or liquid assets as collateral to cover the Fund’s short position, marking the collateral to market daily. This obligation limits a Fund’s investment flexibility, as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The Fund may also take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument. Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential Fund gains and increase potential Fund losses.

Sovereign Debt Risk: These investments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected.

Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund (see “Commodities Risk” above). These risks are described elsewhere in this prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund. The Fund has requested a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service confirming that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Swap Agreements Risk: Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom the Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund and the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the other party to the agreement.

Tax Risk: As noted above under the heading “Details About the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund—Principal Investment Strategies”, the Fund has exposure to commodity-related instruments. In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from qualifying income, which is described in more detail in the SAI. The status of certain commodity-linked derivative instruments as qualifying income has been addressed in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 and Revenue Ruling 2006-31, which provide that income form certain commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the Fund invests will not be considered qualifying income after September 30, 2006. The Fund will therefore restrict its income from commodity-linked derivative instruments that do not generate qualifying income, such as commodity-linked swaps, to a maximum of 10 percent of its gross income.

The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M. The Fund has requested a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service confirming that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will

 

16


constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ true business values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during given periods.

Volatility Risk: The Fund may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to experience significant appreciations or decreases in value over short periods of time.

U.S. Government Securities Risk: Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Certain of the government agency securities the Fund may purchase are backed only by the credit of the government agency and not by full faith and credit of the United States.

The Fund may also be subject to certain other risks associated with its investments and investment strategies, including:

Investment in Money Market Mutual Funds Risk The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not insured or guaranteed by a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although such funds seek to preserve the value of the Fund’s investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market mutual fund.

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk: As with other investments, investments in other investment companies are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares of investment companies, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies.

Securities Lending Risk: The Fund is subject to securities lending risk. The Fund’s risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of the possibility of loss to the Fund due to (i) the inability of the borrower to return the securities, (ii) a delay in receiving additional collateral to adequately cover any fluctuations in the value of securities on loan, (iii) a delay in recovery of the securities, or (iv) the loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In addition, the Fund is responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrower’s collateral.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

CHANGE IN OBJECTIVE

The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Shareholders will normally receive at least 30 days’ written notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

AQR Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust”). The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees that is responsible for overseeing all business activities of the Trust.

The Fund’s Adviser is AQR Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed in 1998. Subject to the overall authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser furnishes continuous investment supervision and management to the Fund’s portfolio and also furnishes office space, equipment, and management personnel. The Adviser’s address is Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830.

The Adviser is an investment management firm that employs a disciplined multi-asset, global research process. (AQR stands for Applied Quantitative Research). Until the launch of the AQR Funds in January 2009, the Adviser’s investment products have been primarily provided through a limited set of collective investment vehicles and separate accounts that utilize all or a subset of the Adviser’s investment strategies. The Adviser also serves as a sub-adviser to several registered investment companies. These investment products range from aggressive, high volatility and market-neutral alternative strategies, to low volatility, more traditional benchmark-driven products. The Adviser and its affiliates had approximately $32.3 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2010.

Investment decisions are made by the Adviser using a series of global asset allocation, arbitrage, and security selection models, and implemented using proprietary trading and risk-management systems. The Adviser believes that a systematic and disciplined process is essential to achieving long-term success in investment and risk management. The principals of the Adviser have been pursuing the research supporting this approach since the late 1980s, and have been implementing this approach in one form or another since 1993. The research conducted by principals and employees of the Adviser has been published in a variety of professional journals since 1991. Please see the Adviser’s website (www.aqr.com) for additional information regarding the published papers written by the Adviser’s principals and other personnel.

The Adviser’s founding principals, Clifford S. Asness, Ph.D., David G. Kabiller, CFA, Robert J. Krail, and John M. Liew, Ph.D., and several colleagues founded the Adviser in January 1998. Each of the Adviser’s founding principals was formerly at Goldman Sachs, & Co., where Messrs. Asness, Krail, and Liew comprised the senior management of the Quantitative Research Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). At GSAM, the team managed both traditional (managed relative to a benchmark) and non-traditional (managed seeking absolute returns) mandates. The founding principals formed the Adviser to build upon the success achieved at GSAM while enabling key professionals to devote a greater portion of their time to research and investment product development. The Adviser manages assets for institutional investors both in the United States and globally. The Adviser is based in Greenwich, Connecticut and employs approximately 200 people as of the date of this prospectus.

CNH Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed in 2001, and a merger arbitrage, convertible arbitrage and diversified arbitrage research affiliate of the Adviser, serves as the Sub-Adviser to certain sub-strategies of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is a joint venture created in 2001 by the Adviser and RAIM Corp. (“RAIM”). RAIM was formed by Mark Mitchell Ph.D. and Todd Pulvino Ph.D. The Adviser compensates the Sub-Adviser out of the management fee the Adviser receives for managing the Fund. The Sub-Adviser’s address is Two Greenwich Plaza, 1st Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830. The Sub-Adviser employs 10 people in Greenwich, Connecticut, and utilizes the infrastructure of the Adviser for non-portfolio management functions.

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into the Management Agreement with the Adviser under which the Adviser receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of [    ]% of average daily net assets of the Fund.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse the Class N Shares of the Fund to the extent that the annual ordinary operating expenses of the Fund’s Class N Shares, exclusive of certain expenses, exceed [    ]% of the average daily net assets of that class. The expense limitation agreement for the Class N Shares of the Fund is effective through [May 1, 2012].

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s current Management Agreement with the Adviser and the current Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser will be available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

The Fund is managed by a team of financial professionals. The portfolio managers of the Fund are jointly and primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as setting the Fund’s overall investment strategy. Information regarding the portfolio managers of the Fund is set forth below. Further information regarding the portfolio managers, including other accounts managed, compensation, ownership of Fund shares, and possible conflicts of interest, is available in the Fund’s SAI.

The portfolio managers of the Adviser responsible for the oversight of the Fund are John Liew, Ph.D., Jacques Friedman, Ronen Israel and Lars Nielsen.

 

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John M. Liew, Ph.D. is a Founding Principal of the Adviser. Prior to co-founding the Adviser in 1998, Dr. Liew was a Vice President and portfolio manager for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Dr. Liew holds a B.A. in Economics, an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Chicago.

Jacques A. Friedman is a Principal of the Adviser. Prior to joining the Adviser at its inception in 1998, he was an Associate in the Quantitative Research Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Mr. Friedman holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington.

Ronen Israel is a Principal of the Adviser. Prior to joining the Adviser in 1999, he was a Senior Analyst at Quantitative Financial Strategies, Inc. Mr. Israel holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and a B.A.S. in Biomedical Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in Mathematics from Columbia University.

Lars Nielsen is a Principal of the Adviser. Prior to joining the Adviser in 2000, he was an Analyst in the Quantitative Research Group of Danske Invest. Mr. Nielsen holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Portfolio Managers of the Sub-Adviser responsible for the oversight of certain sub-strategies of the Fund are Mark Mitchell, Ph.D. and Todd Pulvino, Ph.D.

Mark Mitchell, Ph.D. is a co-founder and principal of the Sub-Adviser. Prior to co-founding the Sub-Adviser, Dr. Mitchell was a finance professor at University of Chicago (1990-1999) and Harvard University (1999-2003). Dr. Mitchell holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Clemson University and B.B.A. in Economics from University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Todd Pulvino, Ph.D. is a co-founder and principal of the Sub-Adviser. Prior to co-founding CNH Partners, Dr. Pulvino was a member of the finance faculty of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and at Harvard Business School. Dr. Pulvino holds Ph.D. and A.M. degrees in Business Economics from Harvard University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and a B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

From time to time, a manager, analyst, or other employee of the Adviser or its affiliates may express views regarding a particular asset class, company, security, industry, or market sector. The views expressed by any such person are the views of only that individual as of the time expressed and do not necessarily represent the views of the Adviser or any other person within the Adviser’s organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and the Adviser disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of a Fund.

 

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INVESTING WITH THE AQR FUNDS

The Fund offers more than one class of shares. Each class of the Fund’s shares has a pro rata interest in the Fund’s investment portfolio, but differs as to expenses, distribution arrangements and the types of investors who may be eligible to invest in the share class. This prospectus only describes the Class N Shares of the Fund. The other share class of the Fund is offered in separate prospectuses. Call 1-866-290-2688 to obtain more information concerning the Fund’s other share class, including the prospectuses for this other share class.

ELIGIBILITY TO BUY CLASS N SHARES

Each Fund’s Class N Shares are offered exclusively to the following groups of investors:

 

  1. Institutional investors such as qualified retirement plans;

 

  2. Fee-based accounts and programs offered by certain financial intermediaries, such as registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, bank trust departments, wrap programs and unified managed accounts;

 

  3. Tax-exempt retirement plans of the Adviser and its affiliates and rollover accounts from those plans, as well as employees of the Adviser and its affiliates, trustees and officers of the Trust and members of their immediate families; and

 

  4. Any other investors that meet the $1,000,000 investment minimum requirements described below under “Investment Minimums—Class N Shares”.

Prior to investing, non-U.S. residents should consult a qualified tax and/or legal adviser about whether purchasing shares of a Fund is a suitable investment given legal and tax ramifications; some non-U.S. persons may not be permitted to invest in a Fund, depending on applicable laws and regulations.

Some financial intermediaries may impose different or additional eligibility requirements. The Funds have the discretion to further modify the above eligibility requirements.

The Funds reserve the right to refuse any request to purchase shares.

INVESTMENT MINIMUMS—CLASS N SHARES

The minimum initial account size is $1,000,000. This minimum investment requirement may be modified or reduced as follows:

 

   

There will be no minimum investment for eligibility groups 1, 2, and 3 described above under “Eligibility to Buy Class N Shares.”

 

   

Investors may aggregate accounts for purposes of determining whether the minimum has been met.

 

   

Investors may enter into a letter of intent indicating that they intend to meet the minimum investment requirements within an 18-month period.

There is no minimum subsequent investment amount.

Some financial intermediaries may impose different or additional minimum investment requirements. The Funds have the discretion to waive or reduce the above minimum investment requirements.

TYPES OF ACCOUNTS—CLASS N SHARES

You may set up your account in any of the following ways:

Individual or Joint Ownership. Individual accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts can have two or more owners, and provide for rights of survivorship.

Gift or Transfer to a Minor (UGMA, UTMA). These gift or transfer accounts let you give money to a minor for any purpose. The gift is irrevocable and the minor gains control of the account once he/she reaches the age of majority. Your application should include the minor’s social security number.

Trust for Established Employee Benefit or Profit-Sharing Plan. The trust or plan must be established before you can open an account and you must include the date of establishment of the trust or plan on your application.

Business or Organization. You may invest money on behalf of a corporation, association, partnership or similar institution. You should include a certified resolution with your application that indicates which officers are authorized to act on behalf of the entity.

Retirement or Education. A qualified retirement account enables you to defer taxes on investment income and capital gains. Your contributions may be tax-deductible. For detailed information on the tax advantages and consequences of investing in individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and retirement plan accounts, please consult your tax advisor. The types of IRAs

 

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available to you are: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly called an Education IRA).

The IRA and Coverdell Education Savings Account custodian charges an annual maintenance fee (currently $15.00) per IRA or ESA holder.

The Fund may be used as an investment in other kinds of retirement plans, including, but not limited to, Keogh plans maintained by self-employed individuals or owner-employees, traditional pension plans, corporate profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, section 403(b)(7) custodial tax-deferred annuity plans, other plans maintained by tax-exempt organizations, cash balance plans and any and all other types of retirement plans. All of these accounts need to be established by the plan’s trustee and the plan’s trustee should contact the Fund regarding the establishment of an investment relationship.

SHARE PRICE

Net Asset Value. The price you pay for a share of the Fund, and the price you receive upon selling or redeeming a share of the Fund, is called the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share. Each Fund’s NAV per share is computed as of the scheduled close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day during which the NYSE is open for trading (a Business Day). The Fund determines a NAV per share for each class of its shares. If the NYSE closes at any other time, or if an emergency exists, transaction deadlines and NAV calculations may occur at different times. The NAV per share of the Fund is computed by dividing the total current value of the assets of the Fund attributable to a class, less class liabilities, by the total number of shares of that class of the Fund outstanding at the time the computation is made.

The value of the Fund’s investments are generally determined based on readily available market quotations. The Fund may use pricing services to obtain readily available market quotations. The Fund values debt securities maturing less than 61 days from the date of purchase at amortized cost, which approximates value. Futures contracts are generally valued at the last quoted sales price on the application valuation date.

Foreign markets may be open at different times and on different days than the NYSE, meaning that the value of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders are not able to buy or sell their shares. Foreign currencies, securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time).

Where market quotations are not readily available, or if an available market quotation is determined not to be reliable, a security will be valued based on its fair value as determined in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. When a security’s fair value is determined, the valuation may differ depending on the valuation method used by the Trust’s Valuation Committee. Shareholders who purchase or redeem shares when the value of one or more securities in the Fund’s portfolio have been determined using fair valuation procedures may receive more or less shares or redemption proceeds than they would have if the securities had not been valued using the fair valuation procedures.

The Fund normally values equity securities and futures contracts primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets as described above. However, the Fund has implemented and normally uses fair value pricing on a daily basis for all equity securities that are not primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets because trading in these securities typically is completed at times that vary significantly from the closing of the NYSE. This fair value pricing process for foreign equity securities uses the quotations of an independent pricing service to value each such security unless (i) the pricing service does not provide prices for the security, in which event the Fund may use market value or fair value in accordance with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures or (ii) the Trust’s Valuation Sub-Committee determines that (a) a quote provided by the service does not accurately reflect the value of the security and (b) the use of another fair valuation methodology is appropriate. This policy is designed to help ensure that the Fund’s NAV per share appropriately reflect its investments’ values at the time of pricing.

Futures contracts that are not primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets are normally valued at the settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. If the Fund or the Adviser determine that the settlement price of the foreign exchange is not reliable, the futures contract will be valued based on its fair value as determined in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at such investment company’s current day closing net asset value per share. Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end investment companies are valued at the last quoted sales price. Equity, total return and commodity swap contracts are valued at fair value, based on the price of the underlying referenced instrument. Credit default swaps are valued daily primarily using independent pricing services or market makers. Interest rate swap contracts are valued at fair value as determined by an independent pricing service based on various valuation models which consider the terms of underlying contracts and market data inputs received from third parties.

You may obtain information as to the Fund’s NAV per share by visiting the Funds’ Web site at www.aqrfunds.com or by calling 1-866-290-2688.

GENERAL PURCHASING POLICIES

 

   

You may purchase the Fund’s Class N Shares at the NAV per share next determined following receipt of your purchase order in good order by the Fund or an authorized financial intermediary or other agent of the Fund. A purchase, exchange or redemption order is in “good order” when the Fund, its Distributor and/or its agent, receives all required information,

 

21


 

including properly completed and signed documents. Financial intermediaries authorized to accept purchase orders on behalf of the Fund are responsible for timely transmitting those orders to the Fund.

 

   

You may purchase the Fund’s Class N Shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries (and other intermediaries these firms may designate) without the imposition of any sales charges. See “How to Buy Class N Shares.”

 

   

Once the Fund accepts your purchase order, you may not cancel or revoke it; however, you may redeem the shares. The Fund is deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized financial intermediary (or its authorized designee) receives the order. The Fund may withhold redemption proceeds until it is reasonably satisfied it has received your payment. This confirmation process may take up to 10 days.

 

   

Each Fund reserves the right to cancel any purchase or exchange order it receives if the Trust believes that it is in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders to do so.

GENERAL REDEMPTION POLICIES

 

   

You may redeem the Fund’s Class N Shares at the NAV per share next-determined following receipt of your redemption order in good order by the Fund or an authorized financial intermediary or other agent of the Fund.

 

   

The Fund cannot accept a redemption request that specifies a particular redemption date or price.

 

   

Once the Fund accepts your redemption order, you may not cancel or revoke it.

 

   

The Fund generally will transmit redemption proceeds within seven days after receipt of your redemption request. If you recently made a purchase, the Fund may withhold redemption proceeds until they are reasonably satisfied that they have received your payment. This confirmation process may take up to 10 days.

 

   

The Fund reserves the right at any time without prior notice to suspend, limit, modify or terminate any privilege, including the telephone exchange privilege, or its use in any manner by any person or class.

Redemption in Kind. The Fund generally intends to pay all redemptions in cash. The Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Redemptions in excess of those amounts will normally be paid in cash, but may be paid wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of marketable securities. Brokerage costs may be incurred by a shareholder who receives securities and desires to convert them to cash.

Excessive and Short-Term Trading. The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes, and thus purchases, redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares should be made with a view toward long-term investment objectives. Excessive trading, short-term trading and other abusive trading activities may be detrimental to the Fund and its long-term shareholders by disrupting portfolio management strategies, increasing brokerage and administrative cost, harming Fund performance and diluting the value of shares. Such trading may also require the Fund to sell securities to meet redemptions, which could cause taxable events that impact shareholders. If your investment horizon is not long-term, then you should not invest in the Fund.

The Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures that seek to discourage and not accommodate excessive or short-term trading activities. These policies and procedures include, among other things, use of fair value pricing of international securities and periodic review of shareholder trading activity.

Despite the Fund’s efforts to detect and prevent abusive trading activity, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify all of those who may engage in abusive trading and curtail their activity in every instance. In particular, it may be difficult to curtail such activity in certain omnibus accounts and other accounts traded through intermediaries, despite arrangements the Fund has entered into with the intermediaries to provide access to account level trading information. Omnibus accounts are comprised of multiple investors whose purchases, exchanges and redemptions are aggregated before being submitted to the Fund.

OTHER POLICIES

No Certificates. The issuance of shares is recorded electronically on the books of the Fund. You will receive a confirmation of, or account statement reflecting, each new transaction in your account, which will also show the total number of shares of the Fund you own. You can rely on these statements in lieu of certificates. The Fund does not issue certificates representing shares of the Fund.

Frozen Accounts. The Fund may be required to “freeze” your account if there appears to be suspicious activity or if account information matches information on a government list of known terrorists or other suspicious persons.

Small Account Policy. The Fund reserves the right, upon 60 days’ written notice, to redeem, at net asset value, the shares of any shareholder whose account has a value of less than $5,000 in the Fund, other than as a result of a decline in the net asset value per share. This policy will not be implemented where the Fund has previously waived the minimum investment requirement for that shareholder.

 

22


Before the Fund redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value of the shares in the account is less than the minimum amount and will allow the shareholder 60 days to make an additional investment in an amount that will increase the value of the account to at least $5,000 before the redemption is processed. As a sale of your Fund shares, this redemption may have tax consequences.

 

23


HOW TO BUY CLASS N SHARES

HOW TO BUY SHARES

You can open an account and make an initial purchase of shares of the Fund directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into appropriate arrangements with the Fund’s Distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc.

To open an account and make an initial purchase directly with the Fund, you can mail a check or other negotiable bank draft (payable to AQR Funds) in the applicable minimum amount, along with a completed and signed Account Application, to AQR Funds, AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248. To obtain an Account Application, call 1-866-290-2688 or download one from www.aqrfunds.com. A completed Account Application must include your valid taxpayer identification number. You may be subject to penalties if you falsify information with respect to your tax identification number.

Payment must be in U.S. dollars by a check drawn on a bank in the United States, wire transfer or electronic transfer. The Fund will not accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks (except for properly endorsed IRA rollover checks), checks drawn on foreign banks or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies. Shares purchased by checks that are returned will be canceled and you will be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or its agents, including bank handling charges for returned checks.

You may also purchase Fund shares by wire transfer from your bank account to your Fund account. To place a purchase by wire, please call 1-866-290-2688 for more information.

After you have opened an account, you can make subsequent purchases of shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary or directly from the Fund, depending on where your account is established. To purchase shares directly by mail, send your instruction and a check to AQR Funds at AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248.

Depending upon the terms of your account, you may pay account fees for services provided in connection with your investment in the Fund. The Fund has authorized certain financial intermediaries (such as broker-dealers, investment advisors or financial institutions) to accept purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. These financial intermediaries may charge their customers a transaction or service fee. The Fund or your financial intermediary can provide you with information about these services and charges. You should read this prospectus in conjunction with any such information you receive.

AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN

The Fund offers an Automatic Investment Plan for current and prospective investors in which you may make monthly investments in the Fund. Sums for investment will be automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account on the day you specify. If you do not specify a day, the transaction will occur on the 20th of each month or the next Business Day if the 20th is not a Business Day. Please call 1-866-290-2688 if you would like more information.

CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person that opens a new account, and to determine whether such person’s name appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations.

As a result, the Fund must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

 

   

Name;

 

   

Date of birth (for individuals);

 

   

Residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and

 

   

Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number.

You may also be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities.

Federal law prohibits the Fund and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information listed above. After an account is opened, the Fund may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Fund may close your account or take other appropriate action if they are unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time. If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed.

 

24


The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares when an investor’s identity is not verified.

eDELIVERY

eDelivery allows you to receive your quarterly account statements, transaction confirmations and other important information concerning your investment in the Fund online. Select this option on your account application to receive email notifications when quarterly statements and confirmations are available for you to view via secure online access. You will also receive emails whenever a new prospectus, semi-annual or annual fund report is available. To establish eDelivery, call 1-866-290-2688 or visit www.aqrfunds.com.

 

25


HOW TO REDEEM CLASS N SHARES

You may normally redeem your shares on any Business Day, i.e., any day during which the NYSE is open for trading. Redemptions of Class N Shares are priced at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of a redemption request in good order by the Fund’s Distributor, the Fund or an authorized agent of the Fund. A financial intermediary may charge its customers a transaction or service fee in connection with redemptions, and will have its own procedures for arranging for redemptions of the Fund’s shares. If you have purchased your Fund shares through a financial intermediary, consult your intermediary for more information.

None of the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent of the Fund, nor any of their affiliates or agents will be liable for any loss, expense or cost when acting upon any oral, wired or electronically transmitted instructions or inquiries believed by them to be genuine.

While precautions will be taken, as more fully described below, you bear the risk of any loss as the result of unauthorized telephone redemptions or exchanges believed to be genuine. The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine. These procedures include recording phone conversations, sending confirmations to shareholders within 72 hours of the telephone transaction, verifying the account name and sending redemption proceeds only to the address of record or to a previously authorized bank account.

BY TELEPHONE

You may redeem your shares by telephone if you choose that option on your Account Application. If you did not originally select the telephone option, you must provide written instructions to the Fund in order to add this option. The maximum amount that may be redeemed by telephone at any one time is $50,000. You may have the proceeds mailed to your address of record or wired to a bank account previously designated on the Account Application.

BY MAIL

To redeem by mail, you must send a written request for redemption to the Fund, AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248. The Fund’s Transfer Agent will require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association, or other financial institution that is participating in a medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. Signature guarantees from financial institutions that are not participating in one of these programs are not accepted as Medallion Signature Guarantees. The Medallion Signature Guarantee requirement will be waived if all of the following conditions apply (1) the redemption check is payable to the shareholder(s) of record, (2) the redemption check is mailed to the shareholder(s) at the address of record, (3) an application is on file with the Transfer Agent, and (4) the proceeds of the redemption are $50,000 or less. The Transfer Agent cannot send an overnight package to a post office box.

BY SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL

You may elect to have monthly electronic transfers ($250 minimum) made to your bank account from your Fund account. Your Fund account must have a minimum balance of $10,000 and automatically have all dividends and capital gains reinvested. The transfer will be made on the Business Day you specify (or the next Business Day) to your designated account or a check will be mailed to your address of record. If you do not specify a day, the transfer will be made on the 20th day of each month or the next Business Day if the 20th is not a Business Day.

RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

To redeem shares from an IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, 403(b) or other retirement account, you must mail a completed and signed Distribution Form to the Fund. You may not redeem shares of an IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEPIRA, 403(b) or other retirement account by telephone or via the Internet.

PAYMENTS OF REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption orders are valued at the NAV per share next determined after the shares are properly tendered for redemption, as described above. Payment for shares redeemed generally will be made within seven days after receipt of a valid request for redemption. The Fund may temporarily stop redeeming shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds when the NYSE is closed or trading on the NYSE is restricted, when an emergency exists and the Fund cannot sell shares or accurately determine the value of assets, or if the SEC orders the Fund to suspend redemptions or delay payment of redemption proceeds.

At various times, the Fund may be requested to redeem shares for which it has not yet received good payment. If this is the case, the forwarding of proceeds may be delayed until payment has been collected for the purchase of the shares. The delay may last 15 days or more. The Fund intends to forward the redemption proceeds as soon as good payment for purchase orders has been received. This delay may be avoided if shares are purchased by wire transfer. The Fund intends to pay cash for all shares redeemed, except in cases noted above under the heading “General Redemption Policies,” in which case payment for certain large redemptions may be

 

26


made wholly or partly in portfolio securities that have a market value equal to the redemption price. You may incur brokerage costs in converting the portfolio securities to cash.

By Check

You may have a check for the redemption proceeds mailed to your address of record. To change the address to which a redemption check is to be mailed, you must send a written request with a Medallion Signature Guarantee to the Funds, AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248.

By ACH Transfer

If your bank account is ACH active, you may have your redemption proceeds sent to your bank account via ACH transfer.

By Wire Transfer

You can arrange for the proceeds of a redemption to be sent by wire transfer to a single previously designated bank account if you have given authorization for expedited wire redemption on your Fund Account Application. This redemption option does not apply to shares held in broker “street name” accounts. If a request for a wire redemption is received by the Fund prior to the close of the NYSE, the shares will be redeemed that day at the next determined NAV, and the proceeds will generally be sent to the designated bank account the next Business Day. The bank must be a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption request may be delayed by the Fund for up to seven days if deemed appropriate under then current market conditions. Redeeming shareholders will be notified if a delay in transmitting proceeds is anticipated. The Fund cannot be responsible for the efficiency of the Federal Reserve wire system or the shareholder’s bank. You are responsible for any charges imposed by your bank. The Fund reserves the right to terminate the wire redemption privilege. Shares purchased by check may not be redeemed by wire transfer until the shares have been owned (i.e., paid for) for at least 15 days. To change the name of the single bank account designated to receive wire redemption proceeds, you must send a written request with a Medallion Signature Guarantee to the Fund, AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248. If you elect to have the payment wired to your bank, a wire transfer fee of $30.00 will be charged by the Fund.

 

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RULE 12B-1 PLAN

The Board of Trustees has adopted with respect to the Fund a Rule 12b-1 Plan. The Rule 12b-1 Plan provides that the distribution fee payable is up to 0.25% annually of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class N Shares. The Rule 12b-1 Plan permits the Fund to make payments for activities designed primarily to result in the sale of the Fund’s Class N Shares. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

The Fund or the Adviser also may enter into agreements with certain intermediaries under which the Fund makes payments to the intermediaries in recognition of the avoided transfer agency costs to the Fund associated with the intermediaries’ maintenance of customer accounts or in recognition of the services provided by intermediaries through mutual fund platforms. Payments made out of the Funds under such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net asset value of the customer shares serviced by the intermediary, up to a set maximum, or (2) a per account fee assessed against each account serviced by such intermediary, up to a set maximum. These payments are in addition to other payments described in this prospectus, such as payments under the Rule 12b-1 Plan.

The Adviser (or an affiliate) also may make additional payments out of its own resources to certain intermediaries or their affiliates based on sales or assets attributable to the intermediary, or such other criteria agreed to by the Adviser in connection with the sale or distribution of the Fund’s shares or the administration of shareholder accounts. The Adviser selects the intermediaries to which it or its affiliate makes payments. These additional payments to intermediaries, which are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing” payments, may represent a premium over payments made by other fund families, and investment professionals may have an added incentive to sell or recommend the Fund or a share class of the Fund over others offered by competing fund families. Ask your investment professional for more information.

The Adviser and the Fund’s Distributor may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.

 

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DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund distributes to its shareholders substantially all net investment income as dividends and any net capital gains realized from sales of the Fund’s portfolio securities. The Fund expects to declare and pay dividends annually. Net realized long-term capital gains, if any, are paid to shareholders at least annually.

All of your income dividends and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in additional shares unless you elect to have distributions paid by check. If any check from the Fund mailed to you is returned as undeliverable or is not presented for payment within six months, the Trust reserves the right to reinvest the check proceeds and future distributions in additional Fund shares.

TAXES

The following discussion of U.S. and non-U.S. taxation applies only to U.S. shareholders and is not intended to be a full discussion of income tax laws and their effect. You may wish to consult your own tax advisor.

Taxes on Transactions. When you redeem shares, you will experience a capital gain or loss if there is a difference between the tax basis of your shares and the price you receive when you redeem them. The federal tax treatment will depend on how long you owned the shares and your individual tax position. Any loss recognized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions that were received with respect to the shares. You may be subject to state and local taxes on your investment in the Fund, depending on the laws of your home state or locality.

Exchanges. If you perform an exchange transaction, it is considered a sale and purchase of shares for federal income tax purposes and may result in a capital gain or loss.

Distributions. Distributions from investment income (dividends) and net short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income except as noted below. Distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time you have held your Fund shares. Although the Fund will not be taxed on amounts it distributes, distributions will be taxable to you whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares, unless you hold your Fund shares in an individual retirement account or other tax-deferred account. These accounts are subject to complex tax rules and you should consult your tax advisor about which tax rules will apply to your investment.

The Trust will send you an annual statement to advise you as to the source of your distributions for tax purposes.

Taxes on Distributions. Distributions are subject to federal income tax, and may be subject to state or local taxes. If you are a U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S., your distributions also may be taxed by the country in which you reside. Your distributions are taxable whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.

For federal tax purposes, the Fund’s income and short-term capital gain distributions are taxed as ordinary income and long-term capital gain distributions are taxed as long-term capital gains, except that “qualified dividend income” of noncorporate investors who satisfy certain holding period requirements is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15%. The 15% maximum rate for long-term capital gains is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. After 2012, the capital gains rate is scheduled to increase to 20% and income from dividends would be taxed as ordinary income. The character of a capital gain depends on the length of time that the Fund held the asset it sold.

Beginning in 2013, a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will be imposed on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gain, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly), and of estates and trusts.

Every January, the Fund will send you and the IRS a statement called Form 1099 showing the amount of taxable distributions you received (including those reinvested in additional shares) in the previous calendar year.

Upon the sale or exchange of his shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and his basis in his shares. A redemption of shares by the fund will be treated as a sale for this purpose. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (discussed above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Average Cost Calculation. Each shareholder is responsible for tax reporting and Fund share cost calculation. To facilitate your tax reporting, the Fund provides you with an average cost statement with your 1099 tax form. This average cost statement is based on transaction activity in an account for the period during which you held the account directly with the Fund.

 

29


Buying Into a Distribution. Purchasing a Fund’s shares in a taxable account shortly before a distribution by the Fund is sometimes called “buying into a distribution.” You pay income taxes on a distribution whether you reinvest the distribution in shares of the Fund or receive it in cash. In addition, you pay taxes on the distribution whether the value of your investment decreased, increased or remained the same after you bought shares of the Fund.

A Fund may build up capital gains during the period covered by a distribution (over the course of the year, for example) when securities in the Fund’s portfolio are sold at a profit. After subtracting any capital losses, the Fund distributes those gains to you and other shareholders, even if you did not own the shares when the gains occurred (if you did not hold the Fund earlier in the year, for example), and you incur the full tax liability on the distribution.

Non-U.S. Income Taxes. Investment income received by the Fund from sources within non-U.S. countries may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes withheld at the source. If the Fund pays nonrefundable taxes to non-U.S. countries during the year, the taxes will reduce the Fund’s return. However, if the Fund qualifies for, and makes, a special election, such non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund will be included as an amount deemed distributed to shareholders as taxable income, and you may be able to claim an offsetting credit or deduction on your tax return for your share of these non-U.S. taxes.

Backup Withholding. You must furnish to the Fund your properly certified social security or other tax identification number to avoid federal income tax backup withholding on dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds. If you do not do so or the IRS informs the Fund that your tax identification number is incorrect, the Fund may be required to withhold a percentage (currently 28%) of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds. Because the Fund must promptly pay to the IRS all amounts withheld, it is usually not possible for the Fund to reimburse you for amounts withheld. You may claim the amount withheld as a credit on your federal income tax return.

 

30


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, no financial performance information for the Fund is available.

 

31


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following is a glossary of terms used throughout this prospectus and their definitions. This glossary is set forth solely for reference purposes. The terms summarized or referenced in this glossary are qualified in their entirety by the prospectus itself.

 

1940 Act   the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
        
Adviser   AQR Capital Management, LLC
      
Board of Trustees   the Board of Trustees of the AQR Funds or any duly authorized committee thereof, as permitted by applicable law
      
Business Day   each day during which the NYSE is open for trading
      
Code   the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
      
Convertible Securities   fixed-income securities that are convertible into common stock
      
Distributor   ALPS Distributors, Inc.
      
Good order   a purchase, exchange or redemption order is in “good order” when a Fund, its Distributor and/or its agent, receives all required information, including properly completed and signed documents
      
IRS   the Internal Revenue Service
      
Management Agreement   the Investment Management Agreement under which the Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Fund
      
Mutual fund   an investment company registered under the 1940 Act that pools the money of many investors and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time
      
NAV   the net asset value of a particular Fund
      
NYSE   the New York Stock Exchange
      
Rule 12b-1 Plan   a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which permits a fund to pay distribution and shareholder servicing expenses out of fund assets
      
SEC   U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
      
Subsidiary   [AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Offshore Fund Ltd.,] a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company
      
Sub-Adviser   CNH Partners, LLC
      
Sub-Advisory Agreement   the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement under which the Sub-Adviser serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund
      
Transfer Agent   ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
      
Trust   AQR Funds, a Delaware statutory trust.
      
Volatility   a statistical measurement of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. If an asset has rapid dramatic price swings, its volatility will likely be relatively high. If prices are consistent and rarely change, volatility of that asset will likely be relatively low. Volatility can be measured as the standard deviation of an asset with a specific time horizon. It is often used to quantify the risk of such asset over a time period, typically expressed in annualized terms

 

32


You may wish to read the Statement of Additional Information for more information about the Funds. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means that it is considered to be part of this prospectus.

You may obtain free copies of the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, request other information, and discuss your questions about the Funds by writing or calling:

AQR Funds

P.O. Box 2248

Denver, CO 80201-2248

(866) 290-2688

The requested documents will be sent within three Business Days of your request.

You may also obtain the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, along with other information, free of charge, by visiting the Funds’ Web site at www.aqrfunds.com.

Text-only versions of all Fund documents can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 202-942-8090. In addition, copies of the Fund documents may be obtained, after mailing the appropriate duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102 or by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.

AQR Funds

Investment Company Act File No.: 811-22235


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, dated May 3, 2011

AQR FUNDS

PROSPECTUS

[            ], 2011

CLASS I SHARES

AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

This prospectus contains important information about the Fund, including its investment objective, fees and expenses. For your benefit and protection, please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference. This prospectus relates only to the Class I Shares of the Fund.

 

Fund    Ticker Symbol
AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund    [             ]

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. In addition, your investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND SUMMARY: AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

     1   

DETAILS ABOUT THE AQR MULTI-STRATEGY FUND

     9   

HOW THE FUND PURSUES ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

     12   

RISK FACTORS

     13   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

     20   

INVESTING WITH THE AQR FUNDS

     22   

HOW TO BUY CLASS I SHARES

     26   

HOW TO REDEEM CLASS I SHARES

     28   

CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

     31   

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     32   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     34   

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

     35   


FUND SUMMARY: AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund seeks positive absolute returns.

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

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

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

     Class I  

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     None   

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of the amount redeemed or original purchase cost)

     None   

Redemption fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed or exchanged, only within 60 days)

     None   

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

     Class I  

Management Fee

     [    ]%   

Distribution (12b-1) fee

     None   

Other Expenses1

     [    ]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [    ]%   

Less: Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements2

     [    ]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements

     [    ]%   

 

1 

Operating expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year because the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.

2 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual fund operating expenses at no more than [    ]% for Class I Shares (the “Fee Waiver Agreement”). This arrangement will continue at least through [May 1, 2012]. The Fee Waiver Agreement may only be terminated with the consent of the Board, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act and does not extend to interest, taxes, dividend expense, borrowing costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense relating to short sales and extraordinary expenses.

Example:

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and takes into account the effect of the Fee Waiver Agreement through [May 1, 2012], as discussed in Footnote No. 2 to the Fee Table. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 Year      3 Years  

Class I Shares

     $ [            ]         $ [            ]   

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.

 

1


PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUND

The Fund pursues its investment objective by aiming to provide exposure to several strategies often referred to as “alternative” or “absolute return” strategies and more traditionally made available through unregistered funds (“hedge funds”). Utilizing a well-diversified portfolio of Instruments (as defined below), the Fund seeks exposure to the following sub-strategies: Convertible Arbitrage, Event Driven (including Merger Arbitrage), Fixed Income Relative Value, Equity Market Neutral, Long/Short Equity, Dedicated Short Bias, Global Macro, Managed Futures and Emerging Markets. Through exposure to these sub-strategies, the Fund attempts to generate positive absolute returns over time. The Fund implements these sub-strategies by investing globally (including in emerging markets) in a broad range of instruments, including, but not limited to, equities, bonds, currencies, commodity indices, credit derivatives, convertible securities, futures, forwards, options, swaps and other derivative products (collectively, the “Instruments”), either by investing directly in these instruments or, indirectly, by investing in the Subsidiary (as described below) that invests in these instruments. The Fund currently intends to achieve its exposure to equities and convertible bonds by either holding securities or holding cash and using derivatives, rather than holding those securities directly. The Fund will not invest in hedge funds and is not designed to match the performance of any hedge fund index. However, the Adviser believes that, based on a comprehensive analysis of the key drivers of return from these sub-strategies, it can capture a meaningful portion of the return that these sub-strategies can be expected to provide. The Fund is generally intended to have a low average correlation to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will utilize proprietary trading algorithms in order to minimize market impact and reduce trading costs. The Adviser will attempt to mitigate risk through diversification of holdings and through active monitoring of volatility, counterparties and other risk measures. There is no assurance, however, that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

The sub-strategies employed by the Fund include:

 

   

Long/Short Equity, Equity Market Neutral and Dedicated Short Bias: These sub-strategies provide long and short exposure to a diversified portfolio of equities which involves simultaneously investing in equities (i.e., investing long) the Adviser expects to increase in value and immediately selling equities (i.e., short sales or short selling) the Adviser expects to decrease in value. Equity Market Neutral is not expected to have industry overweights and seeks to profit by exploiting pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. Long/Short Equity may maintain overweights of industry exposures and also seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities. The Dedicated Short Bias sub-strategy seeks to profit by shorting stocks that have negative market sentiment and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. When taking a “short” position, the Fund may sell an instrument that it does not own and would then borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may also take “short” positions in futures, forwards or swaps. A “short” position will benefit from a decrease in price of the underlying instrument and will lose value if the price of the underlying instrument increases. Long positions will profit if the value of the equity security increases and short positions will profit if the value of the equity security declines and the borrowed shares can be replaced at lower cost. Simultaneously engaging in long investing and short selling reduces the net exposure of the overall portfolio to general market movements.

 

   

Global Macro: Global Macro strategies seek to profit from movement in the prices of securities that are highly sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, across a broad spectrum of assets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country equities, currencies, bonds and commodities markets.

 

   

Emerging Markets: This sub-strategy seeks to profit from investing in equities and currencies of issuers in emerging markets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets, and long and short exposure to a basket of liquid equity securities traded on emerging and developed market exchanges.

 

   

Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible Arbitrage strategies seek to profit from the complexity of the pricing of convertible bonds (which contain elements of both a fixed income security and an equity option) by structuring trades using multiple securities within the capital structure of a convertible bond issuer. The Fund may purchase the convertible bond of a given issuer and simultaneously sell short the common stock of that same issuer to take advantage of a mispricing of either security. This sub-strategy takes positions in various global convertible debt and preferred securities and an offsetting position in various global equities directly linked to the convertible securities. In implementing this sub-strategy, the Fund may use derivatives to hedge against a decline in interest rates or credit exposure. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

   

Managed Futures: Managed Futures strategies seek to profit from the design and implementation of quantitative selection models to help predict upcoming movements in any combination of fixed income, currency, commodity or equity markets. This sub- strategy provides long and short exposure to commodities; long and short exposure to developed country equities, bonds and currencies markets and long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets.

 

   

Event Driven: Event Driven strategies seek to profit from investing in the securities of companies based not on a value or growth investment style but rather on the basis that a specific event or catalyst will affect future prices. This sub-strategy attempts to capitalize on price discrepancies and returns generated by corporate activity, such as merger arbitrage. In merger arbitrage, the Fund will employ a diversified, disciplined strategy to attempt to capture the returns from holding a long/short portfolio of stocks of companies involved in mergers. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

   

Fixed Income Relative Value: Fixed Income Relative Value seeks to profit from exploiting mispricing of various, liquid fixed income or interest rate sensitive securities. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country bond and currency markets, long and short exposure to investment grade credit markets and long and short exposure to forward mortgage-backed securities trading in the to be announced (“TBA”) market.

The Fund provides exposure to several absolute return strategies through one fund offering. The Fund may add additional sub-strategies from time to time. The Fund currently intends to have exposure to each of the sub-strategies, however, it may vary its level of allocation among the sub-strategies depending on market conditions, including reducing the exposure to any sub-strategy to zero.

The Adviser applies a systematic and disciplined process to its investment and risk management. Decisions are made based on a fundamental, research-driven process, where quantitative tools are applied to structure and rebalance portfolios and trade securities.

The Adviser expects the Fund’s NAV over short-term periods to be volatile because of the significant use of Instruments that have a leveraging effect. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. Rapid and dramatic price swings will result in high volatility. The Fund’s returns are expected to be volatile; however, the Adviser, on average, will target an annualized volatility level for the Fund of [    ]%. However, the actual or realized volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. Actual or realized volatility can and will differ from the forecasted or target volatility described above.

If derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less are taken into account, the Fund’s strategy will result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than [        ]%).

Portfolio Construction

The Fund is constructed, at both the strategy level and the portfolio level, to provide returns that are not correlated to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will be managed to be broadly diversified across a range of global markets. In addition, the Fund is monitored to avoid traditional long equity market exposure at the overall portfolio level, while at times allowing modest active long or short equity market exposure through tactical decisions.

Strategy Level

Each of the sub-strategies is constructed using a bottom up systematic process. In addition, two or more sub-strategies may be used in combination to achieve a particular investment exposure or goal. Although the overall Fund is designed to be equity market neutral on average over time, unless the Fund is tactically positioned for a long or short equity market exposure, at the sub-strategy level, the Fund may have equity-based systematic risk. For example, the equity long/short sub-strategy will typically have a slightly net long equity market exposure (depending on the market’s recent performance), while the dedicated short bias sub-strategy is expected to have a slightly negative net equity market exposure. The equity market neutral sub-strategy, on the other hand, is intended to be equity market neutral at all times. Although the Fund may simultaneously use one type of exposure in more than one sub-strategy (e.g. use long exposure to developed market equities for the Global Macro and Managed Futures sub-strategies), the exposure will be independently selected to achieve the goal of the particular sub-strategy.

 

2


Portfolio Level

Once each sub-strategy has been individually constructed or groupings of sub-strategies developed, the Adviser combines them into a single portfolio using a long term strategic risk weighting process and a tactical risk allocation. By combining these two methods, the Adviser seeks to implement the overall strategy while opportunistically taking advantage of strategies that are particularly attractive currently. In general, however, the Adviser’s portfolio construction process focuses on adding value through diversified risk weighting over the long-term.

Sizing Positions

The Adviser sets both the long-term strategic risk weights across the individual sub-strategies or grouped sub-strategies, which are expected to vary only slightly over time, as well as short-term tactical weightings which may deviate from the long-term strategic targets due to shorter term market risks or opportunities. Both the long-term strategic risk weights and the shorter term tactical shifts are determined by the Adviser using quantitative inputs and subjective assessment of the current market environment. The short-term tactical underweights or overweights are intended to vary only modestly from the strategic weights. However, there is no limit on the tactical underweights or overweights and the Adviser has the discretion to not employ a sub-strategy either temporarily or permanently if the perceived risks of the sub-strategy outweigh the potential benefits.

Risk Management

The Adviser will use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the level of risk (i.e., volatility of return) for the Fund. The Adviser expects that the use of systematic risk control generally should lead to a highly diversified portfolio across asset classes, geographies, Instruments and sub-strategies.

The Fund currently intends to invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company. Generally, the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity index swaps and other commodity-linked derivative instruments but it may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. The Fund will invest in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Fund’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary and does not expect shares of the Subsidiary to be offered or sold to other investors.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

Risk is inherent in all investing. The value of your investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the Fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. The following is a summary description of certain risks of investing in the Fund.

Arbitrage or Fundamental Risk: Employing arbitrage and alternative strategies has the risk that anticipated opportunities do not play out as planned, resulting in potentially reduced returns or losses to the Fund as it unwinds failed trades.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.

Common Stock Risk: Common stocks are subject to greater fluctuations in market value than other asset classes as a result of such factors as a company’s business performance, investor perceptions, stock market trends and general economic conditions.

Convertible Securities Risk: The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.

 

3


Counterparty Risk: In general, a derivative contract typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. Many of these derivative contracts will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. If a privately negotiated over-the-counter contract calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the Fund may not receive payments owed under the contract, or such payments may be delayed under such circumstances and the value of agreements with such counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses by the Fund.

Credit Default Swap Agreements Risk: The Fund intends to enter into credit default swap agreements, credit default index swap agreements and similar agreements as a protection “seller” in order to gain exposure to the credit risk of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed income securities and sovereign debt, as well as mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also be a “buyer” of credit protection. Credit default swap agreements involve special risks because they may be difficult to value, are highly susceptible to liquidity and credit risk, and generally pay a return to the party that has paid the premium only in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial difficulty).

Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. Securities rated in the four highest categories by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.

Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. The liquidity and trading value of foreign currencies could be affected by global economic factors, such as inflation, interest rate levels, and trade balances among countries, as well as the actions of sovereign governments. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses. The Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivative instruments exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs. These instruments come in many varieties and have a wide range of potential risks and rewards, and may include futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options (both written and purchased), swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets.

Emerging Market Risk: The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets. Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging securities markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign investments often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances that the Fund will lose money. These risks include:

 

   

The Fund generally holds its foreign securities and cash in foreign banks and securities depositories, which may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business and may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.

 

   

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

   

The economies of certain foreign markets may not compare favorably with the economy of the United States with respect to such issues as growth of gross national product, reinvestment of capital, resources and balance of payments position.

 

   

The governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investments in their capital markets or in certain industries.

 

   

Many foreign governments do not supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities to the same extent as does the United States and may not have laws to protect investors that are comparable to U.S. securities laws.

 

   

Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets may result in delays in payment for or delivery of securities not typically associated with settlement and clearance of U.S. investments.

 

4


Forward and Futures Contract Risk: The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Hedging Transactions Risk: The Adviser and Sub-Adviser, from time to time, employ various hedging techniques. The success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will be subject to the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk: To the extent that a Fund makes investments on a shorter-term basis (including in derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less) the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of fixed income securities generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when interest rates increase. The Fund may lose money if short term or long term interest rates rise sharply or otherwise change in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser.

Leverage Risk: As part of the Fund’s principal investment strategy, the Fund will make investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps and other derivative instruments. The futures contracts and certain other derivatives provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If the Fund uses leverage through activities such as borrowing, entering into short sales, purchasing securities on margin or on a “when-issued” basis or purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, the Fund has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by borrowings or the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the Fund. The net asset value of the Fund employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest.

Manager Risk: If the Fund’s portfolio managers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance.

Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that the markets on which the Fund’s investments trade will increase or decrease in value. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, your investment in the Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Model and Data Risk: Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the Adviser, and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments, to provide risk management insights, and to assist in hedging the Fund’s investments.

When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful. Some of the models used by the Adviser for the Fund are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. Because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.

All models rely on correct market data inputs. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded model, the resulting information will be incorrect. However, even if market data is input correctly, “model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics, such as derivative securities.

 

5


Momentum Style Risk: Investing in securities with positive Momentum entails investing in securities that have had above-average recent returns. These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities. In addition, there may be periods when the Momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of a Fund using a Momentum strategy may suffer.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-related and other mortgage-backed securities are subject to certain risks, including “extension risk” (i.e., in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may pay principal later than expected) and “prepayment risk” (i.e., in periods of declining interest rates, issuers may pay principal more quickly than expected, causing the Fund to reinvest proceeds at lower prevailing interest rates). Exposure to mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers are subject to other risks as well, including failures of private insurers to meet their obligations and unexpectedly high rates of default on the mortgages backing the securities.

New Fund Risk: The Fund is newly-formed. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, and may not employ a successful investment strategy, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders.

Non-Diversified Status Risk: The Fund is a non-diversified fund. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may, therefore, have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

Short Sale Risk: The Fund enters into a short sale by selling a security it has borrowed (typically from a broker or other institution). If the market price of a security increases after the Fund borrows the security, the Fund will suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss when it replaces the borrowed security at the higher price. In certain cases, purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. In addition, a Fund may not always be able to borrow the security at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Fund may also take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument. Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential Fund gains and increase potential Fund losses.

Sovereign Debt Risk: These investments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected.

Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund (see “Commodities Risk” above). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund.

Swap Agreements Risk: Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom a Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund and the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the other party to the agreement.

Tax Risk: In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from qualifying income, which is described in more detail in the SAI. Income from certain commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the Fund invests is not considered qualifying income. The Fund will therefore restrict its income from commodity-linked derivative instruments that do not generate qualifying income, such as commodity-linked swaps, to a maximum of 10 percent of its gross income.

 

6


The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M. The annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ true business values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during given periods.

Volatility Risk: The Fund may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to experience significant appreciations or decreases in value over short periods of time.

U.S. Government Securities Risk: Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Certain of the government agency securities the Fund may purchase are backed only by the credit of the government agency and not by full faith and credit of the United States.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, no full calendar year performance information is available.

INVESTMENT MANAGER

The Fund’s investment manager is AQR Capital Management, LLC. CNH Partners, LLC is the Sub-Adviser of certain sub-strategies of the Fund.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Name

   Portfolio Manager

of the Fund Since

  Title

Of the Adviser

        

John M. Liew, Ph.D.

   [            ], 2011   Founding Principal of the Adviser

Jacques Friedman

   [            ], 2011   Principal of the Adviser

Ronen Israel

   [            ], 2011   Principal of the Adviser

Lars Nielsen

   [            ], 2011   Principal of the Adviser

Of the Sub-Adviser

        

Mark Mitchell, Ph.D.

   [            ], 2011   Principal of the Sub-Adviser

Todd Pulvino, Ph.D.

   [            ], 2011   Principal of the Sub-Adviser

 

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PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

You may purchase or redeem Class I shares of the Fund each day the NYSE is open . To purchase or redeem shares you should contact your financial intermediary, or, if you hold your shares through the Fund, you should contact the Fund by phone at 1-866-290-2688, by mail (c/o AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248), or by the Internet at www.aqrfunds.com. The Fund’s initial and subsequent investment minimums for Class I shares generally are as follows:

 

     Class I Shares
Minimum Initial Investment    $5,000,000
Minimum Subsequent Investment    None

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund’s dividends and distributions may be subject to federal income taxes and may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor or are investing through a retirement plan, in which case you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax deferred arrangements.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER/DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the Fund and the Adviser, or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and other services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial professional or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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DETAILS ABOUT THE AQR MULTI-STRATEGY ALTERNATIVE FUND

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund seeks positive absolute returns.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

The Fund pursues its investment objective by aiming to provide exposure to several strategies often referred to as “alternative” or “absolute return” strategies and more traditionally made available through unregistered funds (“hedge funds”). Utilizing a well-diversified portfolio of Instruments (as defined below), the Fund seeks exposure to the following sub-strategies: Convertible Arbitrage, Event Driven (including Merger Arbitrage), Fixed Income Relative Value, Equity Market Neutral, Long/Short Equity, Dedicated Short Bias, Global Macro, Managed Futures and Emerging Markets. Through exposure to these sub-strategies, the Fund attempts to generate positive absolute returns over time. The Fund implements these sub-strategies by investing globally (including in emerging markets) in a broad range of instruments, including, but not limited to, equities, bonds, currencies, commodity indices, credit derivatives, convertible securities, futures, forwards, options, swaps and other derivative products (collectively, the “Instruments”), either by investing directly in these instruments or, indirectly, by investing in the Subsidiary (as described below) that invests in these instruments. The Fund currently intends to achieve its exposure to equities and convertible bonds by either holding securities or holding cash and using derivatives, rather than holding those securities directly. The Fund will not invest in hedge funds and is not designed to match the performance of any hedge fund index. However, the Adviser believes that, based on a comprehensive analysis of the key drivers of return from these sub-strategies, it can capture a meaningful portion of the return that these sub-strategies can be expected to provide. The Fund is generally intended to have a low average correlation to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will utilize proprietary trading algorithms in order to minimize market impact and reduce trading costs. The Adviser will attempt to mitigate risk through diversification of holdings and through active monitoring of volatility, counterparties and other risk measures. There is no assurance, however, that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

The sub-strategies employed by the Fund include:

 

 

Long/Short Equity, Equity Market Neutral and Dedicated Short Bias: These sub-strategies provide long and short exposure to a diversified portfolio of equities which involves simultaneously investing in equities (i.e., investing long) the Adviser expects to increase in value and immediately selling equities (i.e., short sales or short selling) the Adviser expects to decrease in value. Equity Market Neutral is not expected to have industry overweights and seeks to profit by exploiting pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. Long/Short Equity may maintain overweights of industry exposures and also seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities. The Dedicated Short Bias sub-strategy seeks to profit by shorting stocks that have negative market sentiment and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. When taking a “short” position, the Fund may sell an instrument that it does not own and would then borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may also take “short” positions in futures, forwards or swaps. A “short” position will benefit from a decrease in price of the underlying instrument and will lose value if the price of the underlying instrument increases. Long positions will profit if the value of the equity security increases and short positions will profit if the value of the equity security declines and the borrowed shares can be replaced at lower cost. Simultaneously engaging in long investing and short selling reduces the net exposure of the overall portfolio to general market movements.

 

 

Global Macro: Global Macro strategies seek to profit from movement in the prices of securities that are highly sensitive to macro-economic conditions, across a broad spectrum of assets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country equities, currencies, bonds and commodities markets.

 

 

Emerging Markets: This sub-strategy seeks to profit from investing in equities and currencies of issuers in emerging markets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets, and long and short exposure to a basket of liquid equity securities traded on emerging and developed market exchanges.

 

9


 

Convertible Arbitrage: Convertible Arbitrage strategies seek to profit from the complexity of the pricing of convertible bonds (which contain elements of both a fixed income security and an equity option) by structuring trades using multiple securities within the capital structure of a convertible bond issuer. The Fund may purchase the convertible bond of a given issuer and simultaneously sell short the common stock of that same issuer to take advantage of a mispricing of either security. This sub-strategy takes positions in various global convertible debt and preferred securities and an offsetting position in various global equities directly linked to the convertible securities. In implementing this sub-strategy, the Fund may use derivatives to hedge against a decline in interest rates or credit exposure. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

 

Managed Futures: Managed Futures strategies seek to profit from the design and implementation of quantitative selection models to help predict upcoming movements in any combination of fixed income, currency, commodity or equity markets. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to commodities; long and short exposure to developed country equities, bonds and currencies markets and long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets.

 

 

Event Driven: Event Driven strategies seek to profit from investing in the securities of companies based not on a value or growth investment style but rather on the basis that a specific event or catalyst will affect future prices. This sub-strategy attempts to capitalize on price discrepancies and returns generated by corporate activity, such as merger arbitrage. In merger arbitrage, the Fund will employ a diversified, disciplined strategy to attempt to capture the returns from holding a long/short portfolio of stocks of companies involved in mergers. The Adviser collaborates with the Sub-Adviser for this sub-strategy.

 

 

Fixed Income Relative Value: Fixed Income Relative Value seeks to profit from exploiting mispricing of various, liquid fixed income or interest rate sensitive securities. This sub-strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country bond and currency markets, long and short exposure to investment grade credit markets and long and short exposure to forward mortgage-backed securities trading in the to be announced (“TBA”) market.

The Fund provides exposure to several absolute return strategies through one fund offering. The Fund may add additional sub-strategies from time to time. The Fund currently intends to have exposure to each of the sub-strategies, however, it may vary its level of allocation among the sub-strategies depending on market conditions, including reducing the exposure to any sub-strategy to zero.

The Adviser applies a systematic and disciplined process to its investment and risk management. Decisions are made based on a fundamental, research-driven process, where quantitative tools are applied to structure and rebalance portfolios and trade securities.

The Adviser expects the Fund’s NAV over short-term periods to be volatile because of the significant use of Instruments that have a leveraging effect. Volatility is a statistical measurement of the magnitude of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. Rapid and dramatic price swings will result in high volatility. The Fund’s returns are expected to be volatile; however, the Adviser, on average, will target an annualized volatility level for the Fund of [    ]%. However, the actual or realized volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. Actual or realized volatility can and will differ from the forecasted or target volatility described above.

If derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less are taken into account, the Fund’s strategy will result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than [    ]%).

Portfolio Construction

The Fund is constructed, at both the strategy level and the portfolio level, to provide returns that are not correlated to the equity, bond and credit markets. The Fund will be managed to be broadly diversified across a range of global markets. In addition, the Fund is monitored to avoid traditional long equity market exposure at the overall portfolio level, while at times allowing modest active long or short equity market exposure through tactical decisions.

 

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Strategy Level

Each of the sub-strategies is constructed using a bottom up systematic process. In addition, two or more sub-strategies may be used in combination to achieve a particular investment exposure or goal. Although the overall Fund is designed to be equity market neutral on average over time, unless the Fund is tactically positioned for a long or short equity market exposure, at the sub-strategy level, the Fund may have equity-based systematic risk. For example, the equity long/short sub-strategy will typically have a slightly net long equity market exposure (depending on the market’s recent performance), while the dedicated short bias sub-strategy is expected to have a slightly negative net equity market exposure. The equity market neutral sub-strategy, on the other hand, is intended to be equity market neutral at all times. Although the Fund may simultaneously use one type of exposure in more than one sub-strategy (e.g. use long exposure to developed market equities for the Global Macro and Managed Futures sub-strategies), the exposure will be independently selected to achieve the goal of the particular sub-strategy.

Portfolio Level

Once each sub-strategy has been individually constructed or groupings of sub-strategies developed, the Adviser combines them into a single portfolio using a long term strategic risk weighting process and a tactical risk allocation. By combining these two methods, the Adviser seeks to implement the overall strategy while opportunistically taking advantage of strategies that are particularly attractive currently. In general, however, the Adviser’s portfolio construction process focuses on adding value through diversified risk weighting over the long-term.

Sizing Positions

The Adviser sets both the long-term strategic risk weights across the individual sub-strategies or grouped sub-strategies, which are expected to vary only slightly over time, as well as short-term tactical weightings which may deviate from the long-term strategic targets due to shorter term market risks or opportunities. Both the long-term strategic risk weights and the shorter term tactical shifts are determined by the Adviser using quantitative inputs and subjective assessment of the current market environment. The short-term tactical underweights or overweights are intended to vary only modestly from the strategic weights. However, there is no limit on the tactical underweights or overweights and the Adviser has the discretion to not employ a sub-strategy either temporarily or permanently if the perceived risks of the sub-strategy outweigh the potential benefits.

Risk Management

The Adviser will use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the level of risk (i.e., volatility of return) for the Fund. The Adviser expects that the use of systematic risk control generally should lead to a highly diversified portfolio across asset classes, geographies, Instruments and sub-strategies.

The Fund currently intends to invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company. Generally, the Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity index swaps and other commodity-linked derivative instruments but it may also invest in financial futures, option and swap contracts, fixed income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. The Fund will invest in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to registered investment companies. Unlike the Fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives, however, the Subsidiary will comply with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Fund’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will be subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary and does not expect shares of the Subsidiary to be offered or sold to other investors.

 

11


HOW THE FUND PURSUES ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

Glossary. To keep things simple, we have defined and explained a number of terms and concepts in a Glossary at the back of this prospectus. Terms that are in italics have definitions or explanations in the Glossary.

INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

In addition to the principal investment strategies described above, the Fund may employ the following technique in pursuing its investment objectives.

Segregation of Assets. As an open-end investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various SEC and SEC staff interpretive positions. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, the Fund must “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC- or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivatives instruments. In the case of forwards contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, for example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value while the positions are open. With respect to forward contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.

The Fund generally will use its money market instruments to cover its obligations as required by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable SEC and SEC staff positions. As a result of their segregation, the short-term debt securities (or any other liquid asset segregated) may not be used for other operational purposes. The Adviser will monitor the Fund’s use of derivatives and will take action as necessary for the purpose of complying with the asset segregation policy stated above. Such actions may include the sale of the Fund’s portfolio investments.

Securities Lending. To attempt to increase its income or total return, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to certain types of eligible borrowers. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to certain types of eligible borrowers in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its total assets, which may include collateral. Each loan will be secured continuously by collateral in the form of cash, high quality money market instruments or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Collateral will be received and maintained by the Fund’s custodian concurrent with delivery of the loaned securities and kept in a segregated account or designated on the records of the custodian for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund has a right to call a loan at any time and require the borrower to redeliver the borrowed securities to the Fund within the settlement time specified in the loan agreement or be subject to a “buy in”. The Fund will generally not have the right to vote securities while they are being loaned, but it is expected that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, will call a loan in anticipation of any important vote. Securities lending will be conducted by a securities lending agent approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The securities lending agent maintains a list of broker-dealers, banks or other institutions that it has determined to be creditworthy. The Fund will only enter into loan arrangements with borrowers on the approved list.

 

12


RISK FACTORS

All investments, including those in mutual funds, have risks, and no one investment is suitable for all investors. The Fund is intended for long-term investors. Your investment may be subject to the risks described below if you invest in the Fund, based on the risks identified for the Fund in that Fund’s description above.

Arbitrage or Fundamental Risk: A Fund employing arbitrage and alternative strategies has the risk that anticipated opportunities do not play out as planned, resulting in potentially reduced returns or losses to the Fund as it unwinds failed trades. For example, with respect to the convertible arbitrage strategy described under “Details About the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund”, an issuer may default or may be unable to make interest and dividend payments when due. With respect to the merger arbitrage strategy, the merger deal may terminate prior to closing, thereby imposing losses to the Fund. Arbitrage or fundamental risk may exist for other strategies employed by the Fund.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative investments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments.

Common Stock Risk: The Fund invests significantly in common stocks, which are a type of equity security that represents an ownership interest in a corporation. Common stocks are subject to greater fluctuations in market value than other asset classes as a result of such factors as a company’s business performance, investor perceptions, stock market trends and general economic conditions. The rights of common stockholders are subordinate to all other claims on a company’s assets, including debt holders and preferred stockholders. Therefore, the Fund could lose money if a company in which it invests becomes financially distressed.

Convertible Securities Risk: The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.

Counterparty Risk: The Fund may enter into various types of derivative contracts as described below. Many of these derivative contracts will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. If a privately negotiated over-the-counter contract calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the Fund may not receive payments owed under the contract, or such payments may be delayed under such circumstances and the value of agreements with such counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses by the Fund.

Credit Default Swap Agreements Risk: The Fund intends to enter into credit default swap agreements, credit default index swap agreements and similar agreements as a protection “seller” in order to gain exposure to the credit risk of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed income securities and sovereign debt, as well as mortgage-backed securities. The Fund may also be a “buyer” of credit protection. The credit default swap agreement or similar instruments may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap agreement is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement, provided generally that no credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. In addition, at the inception of the agreement, the protection “buyer” may receive or be obligated to pay an additional up-front amount depending on the current market value of the contract. If a credit event occurs, an auction process is used to determine the “recovery value” of the contract. The seller then must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund’s net cash flows over the life of the contract will be the initial up-front amount paid or received minus the sum of the periodic payments made over the life of the contract. However, if a credit event occurs, the Fund may elect to

 

13


receive a cash amount equal to the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. In addition, at the inception of the agreement, the Fund may receive or be obligated to pay an additional up-front amount depending on the current market value of the contract. If a credit event occurs, the Fund will be generally obligated to pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. Credit default swaps could result in losses if the Adviser does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the underlying instrument on which the credit default swap is based. Additionally, if the Fund is a seller of a credit default swap and a credit event occurs, the Fund could suffer significant losses.

Credit Risk: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The degree of credit risk depends on both the financial condition of the issuer and the terms of the obligation. Securities rated in the four highest categories (Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) (AAA, AA, A and BBB), Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) (AAA, AA, A and BBB) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (Aaa, Aa, A and Baa)) by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics, meaning that they carry more risk than higher rated securities and may have problems making principal and interest payments in difficult economic climates. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.

Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses. The Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

Currency exchange rates may be particularly affected by the relative rates of inflation, interest rate levels, the balance of payments and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in such foreign countries and in the United States, all of which are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of such foreign countries, the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance. Governments may use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by their central bank or imposition of regulatory controls or taxes, to affect the exchange rates of their respective currencies. They may also issue a new currency to replace an existing currency or alter the exchange rate or relative exchange characteristics by devaluation or revaluation of a currency. The liquidity and trading value of these foreign currencies could be affected by the actions of sovereign governments, which could change or interfere with theretofore freely determined currency valuation, fluctuations in response to other market forces and the movement of currencies across borders.

Derivatives Risk: The Adviser may make use of futures, forwards, swaps and other forms of derivative contracts. In general, a derivative contract (including options, as described below) typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of a security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative contract. The use of derivative instruments also exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs. These instruments come in many varieties and have a wide range of potential risks and rewards, and may include futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options (both written and purchased), swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts. Risks of these instruments include:

 

   

that interest rates, securities prices and currency markets will not move in the direction that the portfolio managers anticipate;

 

   

that prices of the instruments and the prices of underlying securities, interest rates or currencies they are designed to reflect do not move together as expected;

 

   

that the skills needed to use these strategies are different than those needed to select portfolio securities;

 

   

the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument and, for exchange-traded instruments, possible exchange-imposed price fluctuation limits, either of which may make it difficult or impossible to close out a position when desired;

 

   

that adverse price movements in an instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the Fund’s initial investment in that instrument (in some cases, the potential loss is unlimited);

 

14


   

particularly in the case of privately-negotiated instruments, that the counterparty will not perform its obligations, which could leave the Fund worse off than if it had not entered into the position;

 

   

the inability to close out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences, and the fact that some of these instruments, such as credit default swaps, may have uncertain tax implications for the Fund;

 

   

the fact that “speculative position limits” imposed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and certain futures exchanges on net long and short positions may require the Fund to limit or unravel positions in certain types of instruments; and

 

   

the high levels of volatility some of these instruments may exhibit, in some cases due to the high levels of leverage an investor may achieve with them.

Emerging Market Risk: The Fund intends to have exposure to emerging markets. Investing in emerging markets will, among other things, expose the Fund to all the risks described below in the Foreign Securities Risk section, and you should review that section carefully. However, there are greater risks involved in investing in emerging market countries and/or their securities markets than there are in more developed countries and/or markets. Generally, economic structures in these countries are less diverse and mature than those in developed countries, and their political systems are less stable. Investments in emerging market countries may be affected by national policies that restrict foreign investment in certain issuers or industries. The small size of their securities markets and low trading volumes can make investments illiquid and more volatile than investments in developed countries and such securities may be subject to abrupt and severe price declines. The Fund may be required to establish special custody or other arrangements before investing. In addition, because the securities settlement procedures are less developed in these countries, the Fund may be required to deliver securities before receiving payment and may also be unable to complete transactions during market disruptions. The possible establishment of exchange controls or freezes on the convertibility of currency might adversely affect an investment in foreign securities.

Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund’s investments in foreign securities, including depositary receipts, involve risks not associated with investing in U.S. securities. Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets. There may be difficulties enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for trades to clear and settle. The specific risks of investing in foreign securities, among others, include:

 

   

Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses. To the extent that a Fund is invested in foreign securities while also maintaining currency positions, it may be exposed to greater combined risk. A Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

 

   

Geographic Risk: If the Fund concentrates its investments in issuers located or doing business in any country or region, factors adversely affecting that country or region will affect the Fund’s net asset value more than would be the case if the Fund had made more geographically diverse investments. The economies and financial markets of certain regions, such as Latin America or Asia, can be highly interdependent and decline all at the same time.

 

   

Political/Economic Risk: Changes in economic and tax policies, government instability, war or other political or economic actions or factors may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s foreign investments, potentially including expropriation and nationalization, confiscatory taxation, and the potential difficulty of repatriating funds to the United States.

 

   

Regulatory Risk: Issuers of foreign securities and foreign securities markets are generally not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. issuers and U.S. securities markets. The reporting, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries may differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards.

 

   

Transaction Costs Risk: The costs of buying and selling foreign securities, including tax, brokerage and custody costs, generally are higher than those involving domestic transactions.

 

15


   

Use of Foreign Currency Forward Agreements: Foreign currency forward prices are influenced by, among other things, changes in balances of payments and trade, domestic and international rates of inflation, international trade restrictions and currency devaluations and revaluations. Investments in currency forward contracts may cause the Fund to maintain net short positions in any currency, including home country currency. In other words, the total value of short exposure to such currency (such as short spot and forward positions in such currency) may exceed the total value of long exposure to such currency (such as long individual equity positions, long spot and forward positions in such currency).

Forward and Futures Contract Risk: The successful use of forward and futures contracts draws upon the Adviser’s skill and experience with respect to such instruments and are subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Hedging Transactions Risk: The Adviser and Sub-Adviser, from time to time, employ various hedging techniques. The success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will be subject to the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner.

Hedging against a decline in the value of a portfolio position does not eliminate fluctuations in the values of those portfolio positions or prevent losses if the values of those positions decline. Rather, it establishes other positions designed to gain from those same declines, thus seeking to moderate the decline in the portfolio position’s value. Such hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of the portfolio position should increase. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser may determine, in its sole discretion, not to hedge against certain risks and certain risks may exist that cannot be hedged. Furthermore, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not anticipate a particular risk so as to hedge against it effectively. Hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of a hedged portfolio position should increase.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk: To the extent that the Fund makes investments on a shorter-term basis (including in derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less) the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of fixed income securities generally increase when interest rates decline and decrease when interest rates increase. Prices of longer term securities generally change more in response to interest rate changes than prices of shorter term securities. The Fund may lose money if short term or long term interest rates rise sharply or otherwise change in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser.

Leverage Risk: If the Fund makes investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps and other derivative instruments, these instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If the Fund uses leverage through activities such as borrowing, entering into short sales, purchasing securities on margin or on a “when-issued” basis or purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, the Fund has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur

 

16


when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by borrowings or the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the Fund. The net asset value of the Fund employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest.

Manager Risk: If the Fund’s portfolio managers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance.

Market Risk: The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the risk that the markets on which the Fund’s investments trade will increase or decrease in value. Market risk applies to every Fund investment. Prices may fluctuate widely over short or extended periods in response to company, market or economic news. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, your investment in the Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Model and Data Risk: Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the Adviser, and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments, to provide risk management insights, and to assist in hedging the Fund’s investments.

When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. For example, by relying on Models and Data, the Adviser may be induced to buy certain investments at prices that are too high, to sell certain other investments at prices that are too low, or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful.

Some of the models used by the Adviser for one or more Funds are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. For example, such models may incorrectly forecast future behavior, leading to potential losses on a cash flow and/or a mark-to-market basis. In addition, in unforeseen or certain low-probability scenarios (often involving a market disruption of some kind), such models may produce unexpected results, which can result in losses for the Fund. Furthermore, because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.

All models rely on correct market data inputs. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded model, the resulting information will be incorrect. However, even if market data is input correctly, “model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics, such as derivative securities.

Momentum Style Risk: Investing in securities with positive Momentum entails investing in securities that have had above-average recent returns. These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities. In addition, there may be periods when the Momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of a Fund using a Momentum strategy may suffer.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-related and other mortgage-backed securities are subject to certain risks, including “extension risk” (i.e., in periods of rising interest rates, issuers may pay principal later than expected) and “prepayment risk” (i.e., in periods of declining interest rates, issuers may pay principal more quickly than expected, causing the Fund to reinvest proceeds at lower prevailing interest rates). Exposure to mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers are subject to other risks as well, including failures of private insurers to meet their obligations and unexpectedly high rates of default on the mortgages backing the securities.

New Fund Risk: The Fund is newly-formed, and the Adviser has not previously served as the primary adviser to an investment company registered under the 1940 Act. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, and may not employ a successful investment strategy, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders.

 

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Non-Diversified Status Risk: The Fund is a non-diversified fund. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may, therefore, have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

Short Sale Risk: A Fund enters into a short sale by selling a security it has borrowed (typically from a broker or other institution). If the market price of a security increases after a Fund borrows the security, the Fund will suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss when it replaces the borrowed security at the higher price. In certain cases, purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. In addition, a Fund may not always be able to borrow the security at a particular time or at an acceptable price. Before a Fund replaces a borrowed security, it is required to designate on its books cash or liquid assets as collateral to cover the Fund’s short position, marking the collateral to market daily. This obligation limits a Fund’s investment flexibility, as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The Fund may also take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument. Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential Fund gains and increase potential Fund losses.

Sovereign Debt Risk: These investments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected.

Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund (see “Commodities Risk” above). These risks are described elsewhere in this prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Fund and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Adviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund. The Fund has requested a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service confirming that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

Swap Agreements Risk: Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom the Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund and the risk that the Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the other party to the agreement.

Tax Risk: As noted above under the heading “Details About the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund—Principal Investment Strategies”, the Fund has exposure to commodity-related instruments. In order for the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from qualifying income, which is described in more detail in the SAI. The status of certain commodity-linked derivative instruments as qualifying income has been addressed in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 and Revenue Ruling 2006-31, which provide that income form certain commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the Fund invests will not be considered qualifying income after September 30, 2006.

 

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The Fund will therefore restrict its income from commodity-linked derivative instruments that do not generate qualifying income, such as commodity-linked swaps, to a maximum of 10 percent of its gross income.

The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements of Subchapter M. The Fund has requested a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service confirming that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Fund will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ true business values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during given periods.

Volatility Risk: The Fund may have investments that appreciate or decrease significantly in value over short periods of time. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to experience significant appreciations or decreases in value over short periods of time.

U.S. Government Securities Risk: Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Certain of the government agency securities the Fund may purchase are backed only by the credit of the government agency and not by full faith and credit of the United States.

The Fund may also be subject to certain other risks associated with its investments and investment strategies, including:

Investment in Money Market Mutual Funds Risk: The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not insured or guaranteed by a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although such funds seek to preserve the value of the Fund’s investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market mutual fund.

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk: As with other investments, investments in other investment companies are subject to market and selection risk. In addition, if the Fund acquires shares of investment companies, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of expenses in the Fund (including management and advisory fees) and, indirectly, the expenses of the investment companies.

Securities Lending Risk: The Fund is subject to securities lending risk. The Fund’s risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of the possibility of loss to the Fund due to (i) the inability of the borrower to return the securities, (ii) a delay in receiving additional collateral to adequately cover any fluctuations in the value of securities on loan, (iii) a delay in recovery of the securities, or (iv) the loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In addition, the Fund is responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrower’s collateral.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

CHANGE IN OBJECTIVE

The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Shareholders will normally receive at least 30 days’ written notice of any change in the Fund’s investment objective.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

AQR Funds is organized as a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust”). The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees that is responsible for overseeing all business activities of the Trust.

The Fund’s Adviser is AQR Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed in 1998. Subject to the overall authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser furnishes continuous investment supervision and management to the Fund’s portfolio and also furnishes office space, equipment, and management personnel. The Adviser’s address is Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830.

The Adviser is an investment management firm that employs a disciplined multi-asset, global research process. (AQR stands for Applied Quantitative Research). Until the launch of the AQR Funds in January 2009, the Adviser’s investment products have been primarily provided through a limited set of collective investment vehicles and separate accounts that utilize all or a subset of the Adviser’s investment strategies. The Adviser also serves as a sub-adviser to several registered investment companies. These investment products range from aggressive, high volatility and market-neutral alternative strategies, to low volatility, more traditional benchmark-driven products. The Adviser and its affiliates had approximately $32.3 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2010.

Investment decisions are made by the Adviser using a series of global asset allocation, arbitrage, and security selection models, and implemented using proprietary trading and risk-management systems. The Adviser believes that a systematic and disciplined process is essential to achieving long-term success in investment and risk management. The principals of the Adviser have been pursuing the research supporting this approach since the late 1980s, and have been implementing this approach in one form or another since 1993. The research conducted by principals and employees of the Adviser has been published in a variety of professional journals since 1991. Please see the Adviser’s website (www.aqr.com) for additional information regarding the published papers written by the Adviser’s principals and other personnel.

The Adviser’s founding principals, Clifford S. Asness, Ph.D., David G. Kabiller, CFA, Robert J. Krail, and John M. Liew, Ph.D., and several colleagues founded the Adviser in January 1998. Each of the Adviser’s founding principals was formerly at Goldman Sachs, & Co., where Messrs. Asness, Krail, and Liew comprised the senior management of the Quantitative Research Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). At GSAM, the team managed both traditional (managed relative to a benchmark) and non-traditional (managed seeking absolute returns) mandates. The founding principals formed the Adviser to build upon the success achieved at GSAM while enabling key professionals to devote a greater portion of their time to research and investment product development. The Adviser manages assets for institutional investors both in the United States and globally. The Adviser is based in Greenwich, Connecticut and employs approximately 200 people as of the date of this prospectus.

CNH Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed in 2001, and a merger arbitrage, convertible arbitrage and diversified arbitrage research affiliate of the Adviser, serves as the Sub-Adviser to certain sub-strategies of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is a joint venture created in 2001 by the Adviser and RAIM Corp. (“RAIM”). RAIM was formed by Mark Mitchell Ph.D. and Todd Pulvino Ph.D. The Adviser compensates the Sub-Adviser out of the management fee the Adviser receives for managing the Fund. The Sub-Adviser’s address is Two Greenwich Plaza, 1st Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830. The Sub-Adviser employs 10 people in Greenwich, Connecticut, and utilizes the infrastructure of the Adviser for non-portfolio management functions.

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into the Management Agreement with the Adviser under which the Adviser receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of [    ]% of average daily net assets of the Fund.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse the Class I Shares of the Fund to the extent that the annual ordinary operating expenses of the Fund’s Class I Shares, exclusive of certain expenses, exceed [    ]% of the average daily net assets of that class. The expense limitation agreement for the Class I Shares of the Fund is effective through [May 1, 2012].

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s current Management Agreement with the Adviser and the current Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser will be available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ended December 31, 2011.

 

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The Fund is managed by a team of financial professionals. The portfolio managers of the Fund are jointly and primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as setting the Fund’s overall investment strategy. Information regarding the portfolio managers of the Fund is set forth below. Further information regarding the portfolio managers, including other accounts managed, compensation, ownership of Fund shares, and possible conflicts of interest, is available in the Fund’s SAI.

The portfolio managers of the Adviser responsible for the oversight of the Fund are John Liew, Ph.D., Jacques Friedman, Ronen Israel and Lars Nielsen.

John M. Liew, Ph.D. is a Founding Principal of the Adviser. Prior to co-founding the Adviser in 1998, Dr. Liew was a Vice President and portfolio manager for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Dr. Liew holds a B.A. in Economics, an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Chicago.

Jacques A. Friedman is a Principal of the Adviser. Prior to joining the Adviser at its inception in 1998, he was an Associate in the Quantitative Research Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Mr. Friedman holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington.

Ronen Israel is a Principal of the Adviser. Prior to joining the Adviser in 1999, he was a Senior Analyst at Quantitative Financial Strategies, Inc. Mr. Israel holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and a B.A.S. in Biomedical Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in Mathematics from Columbia University.

Lars Nielsen is a Principal of the Adviser. Prior to joining the Adviser in 2000, he was an Analyst in the Quantitative Research Group of Danske Invest. Mr. Nielsen holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Portfolio Managers of the Sub-Adviser responsible for the oversight of certain sub-strategies of the Fund are Mark Mitchell, Ph.D. and Todd Pulvino, Ph.D.

Mark Mitchell, Ph.D. is a co-founder and principal of the Sub-Adviser. Prior to co-founding the Sub-Adviser, Dr. Mitchell was a finance professor at University of Chicago (1990-1999) and Harvard University (1999-2003). Dr. Mitchell holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Clemson University and B.B.A. in Economics from University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Todd Pulvino, Ph.D. is a co-founder and principal of the Sub-Adviser. Prior to co-founding CNH Partners, Dr. Pulvino was a member of the finance faculty of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and at Harvard Business School. Dr. Pulvino holds Ph.D. and A.M. degrees in Business Economics from Harvard University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and a B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

From time to time, a manager, analyst, or other employee of the Adviser or its affiliates may express views regarding a particular asset class, company, security, industry, or market sector. The views expressed by any such person are the views of only that individual as of the time expressed and do not necessarily represent the views of the Adviser or any other person within the Adviser’s organization. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and the Adviser disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for a Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent on behalf of a Fund.

 

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INVESTING WITH THE AQR FUNDS

The Fund offers more than one class of shares. Each class of the Fund’s shares has a pro rata interest in the Fund’s investment portfolio, but differs as to expenses, distribution arrangements and the types of investors who may be eligible to invest in the share class. This prospectus only describes the Class I Shares of the Fund. The other share class of the Fund is offered in separate prospectuses. Call 1-866-290-2688 to obtain more information concerning the Fund’s other share class, including the prospectuses for this other share class.

ELIGIBILITY TO BUY CLASS I SHARES

Each Fund’s Class I Shares are offered exclusively to the following groups of investors:

 

  1. Institutional investors such as qualified retirement plans;

 

  2. Fee-based accounts and programs offered by certain financial intermediaries, such as registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, bank trust departments, wrap programs and unified managed accounts;

 

  3. Tax-exempt retirement plans of the Adviser and its affiliates and rollover accounts from those plans, as well as employees of the Adviser and its affiliates, trustees and officers of the Trust and members of their immediate families;

 

  4. Investment professionals, employees of broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries, and their immediate family members; and

 

  5. Any other investors that meet the $5,000,000 investment minimum requirements described below under “Investment Minimums—Class I Shares”.

Prior to investing, non-U.S. residents should consult a qualified tax and/or legal adviser about whether purchasing shares of a Fund is a suitable investment given legal and tax ramifications; some non U.S. persons may not be permitted to invest in a Fund, depending on applicable laws and regulations.

Some financial intermediaries may impose different or additional eligibility requirements. The Funds have the discretion to further modify the above eligibility requirements.

The Funds reserve the right to refuse any request to purchase shares.

INVESTMENT MINIMUMS—CLASS I SHARES

The minimum initial account size is $5,000,000. This minimum investment requirement may be modified or reduced as follows:

 

   

For eligibility groups 1 and 2 described above under “Eligibility to Buy Class I Shares”, a reduced minimum of $100,000 applies.

 

   

For eligibility groups 3 and 4 described above under “Eligibility to Buy Class I Shares”, there will be no minimum investment requirement.

 

   

Investors may aggregate accounts for purposes of determining whether the minimum has been met.

 

   

Investors may enter into a letter of intent indicating that they intend to meet the minimum investment requirements within an 18-month period. Class I Shares may be converted to Class N Shares if the minimum has not been met in the indicated time period.

There is no minimum subsequent investment amount.

Some financial intermediaries may impose different or additional minimum investment requirements. The Funds have the discretion to further modify, waive or reduce the above minimum investment requirements.

 

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TYPES OF ACCOUNTS—CLASS I SHARES

You may set up your account in any of the following ways:

Individual or Joint Ownership. Individual accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts can have two or more owners, and provide for rights of survivorship.

Gift or Transfer to a Minor (UGMA, UTMA). These gift or transfer accounts let you give money to a minor for any purpose. The gift is irrevocable and the minor gains control of the account once he/she reaches the age of majority. Your application should include the minor’s social security number.

Trust for Established Employee Benefit or Profit-Sharing Plan. The trust or plan must be established before you can open an account and you must include the date of establishment of the trust or plan on your application.

Business or Organization. You may invest money on behalf of a corporation, association, partnership or similar institution. You should include a certified resolution with your application that indicates which officers are authorized to act on behalf of the entity.

Retirement or Education. A qualified retirement account enables you to defer taxes on investment income and capital gains. Your contributions may be tax-deductible. For detailed information on the tax advantages and consequences of investing in individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and retirement plan accounts, please consult your tax advisor. The types of IRAs available to you are: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and Coverdell Education Savings Account (formerly called an Education IRA).

The IRA and Coverdell Education Savings Account custodian charges an annual maintenance fee (currently $15.00) per IRA or ESA holder.

The Fund may be used as an investment in other kinds of retirement plans, including, but not limited to, Keogh plans maintained by self-employed individuals or owner-employees, traditional pension plans, corporate profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, section 403(b)(7) custodial tax-deferred annuity plans, other plans maintained by tax-exempt organizations, cash balance plans and any and all other types of retirement plans. All of these accounts need to be established by the plan’s trustee and the plan’s trustee should contact the Fund regarding the establishment of an investment relationship.

SHARE PRICE

Net Asset Value. The price you pay for a share of the Fund, and the price you receive upon selling or redeeming a share of the Fund, is called the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share. Each Fund’s NAV per share is computed as of the scheduled close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day during which the NYSE is open for trading (a Business Day). The Fund determines a NAV per share for each class of its shares. If the NYSE closes at any other time, or if an emergency exists, transaction deadlines and NAV calculations may occur at different times. The NAV per share of the Fund is computed by dividing the total current value of the assets of the Fund attributable to a class, less class liabilities, by the total number of shares of that class of the Fund outstanding at the time the computation is made.

The value of the Fund’s investments is generally determined based on readily available market quotations. The Fund may use pricing services to obtain readily available market quotations. The Fund values debt securities maturing less than 61 days from the date of purchase at amortized cost, which approximates value. Futures contracts are generally valued at the last quoted sales price on the application valuation date.

Foreign markets may be open at different times and on different days than the NYSE, meaning that the value of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders are not able to buy or sell their shares. Foreign currencies, securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time).

Where market quotations are not readily available, or if an available market quotation is determined not to be reliable, a security will be valued based on its fair value as determined in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. When a security’s fair value is determined, the valuation may differ depending

 

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on the valuation method used by the Trust’s Valuation Committee. Shareholders who purchase or redeem shares when the value of one or more securities in the Fund’s portfolio have been determined using fair valuation procedures may receive more or less shares or redemption proceeds than they would have if the securities had not been valued using the fair valuation procedures.

The Fund normally values equity securities and futures contracts primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets as described above. However, the Fund has implemented and normally uses fair value pricing on a daily basis for all equity securities that are not primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets because trading in these securities typically is completed at times that vary significantly from the closing of the NYSE. This fair value pricing process for foreign equity securities uses the quotations of an independent pricing service to value each such security unless (i) the pricing service does not provide prices for the security, in which event the Fund may use market value or fair value in accordance with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures or (ii) the Trust’s Valuation Sub-Committee determines that (a) a quote provided by the service does not accurately reflect the value of the security and (b) the use of another fair valuation methodology is appropriate. This policy is designed to help ensure that the Fund’s NAV per share appropriately reflect its investments’ values at the time of pricing.

Futures contracts that are not primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets are normally valued at the settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. If the Fund or the Adviser determine that the settlement price of the foreign exchange is not reliable, the futures contract will be valued based on its fair value as determined in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at such investment company’s current day closing net asset value per share. Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end investment companies are valued at the last quoted sales price. Equity, total return and commodity swap contracts are valued at fair value, based on the price of the underlying referenced instrument. Credit default swaps are valued daily primarily using independent pricing services or market makers. Interest rate swap contracts are valued at fair value as determined by an independent pricing service based on various valuation models which consider the terms of underlying contracts and market data inputs received from third parties.

You may obtain information as to the Fund’s NAV per share by visiting the Funds’ Web site at www.aqrfunds.com or by calling 1-866-290-2688.

GENERAL PURCHASING POLICIES

 

   

You may purchase the Fund’s Class I Shares at the NAV per share next determined following receipt of your purchase order in good order by the Fund or an authorized financial intermediary or other agent of the Fund. A purchase, exchange or redemption order is in “good order” when the Fund, its Distributor and/or its agent, receives all required information, including properly completed and signed documents. Financial intermediaries authorized to accept purchase orders on behalf of the Fund are responsible for timely transmitting those orders to the Fund.

 

   

You may purchase the Fund’s Class I Shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries (and other intermediaries these firms may designate) without the imposition of any sales charges. See “How to Buy Class I Shares.”

 

   

Once the Fund accepts your purchase order, you may not cancel or revoke it; however, you may redeem the shares. The Fund is deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized financial intermediary (or its authorized designee) receives the order. The Fund may withhold redemption proceeds until it is reasonably satisfied it has received your payment. This confirmation process may take up to 10 days.

 

   

The Fund reserves the right to cancel any purchase or exchange order it receives if the Trust believes that it is in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders to do so.

GENERAL REDEMPTION POLICIES

 

   

You may redeem the Fund’s Class I Shares at the NAV per share next-determined following receipt of your redemption order in good order by the Fund or an authorized financial intermediary or other agent of the Fund.

 

   

The Fund cannot accept a redemption request that specifies a particular redemption date or price.

 

   

Once the Fund accepts your redemption order, you may not cancel or revoke it.

 

   

The Fund generally will transmit redemption proceeds within seven days after receipt of your redemption request. If you recently made a purchase, the Fund may withhold redemption proceeds until

 

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they are reasonably satisfied that they have received your payment. This confirmation process may take up to 10 days.

 

   

The Fund reserves the right at any time without prior notice to suspend, limit, modify or terminate any privilege, including the telephone exchange privilege, or its use in any manner by any person or class.

Redemption in Kind. The Fund generally intends to pay all redemptions in cash. The Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Redemptions in excess of those amounts will normally be paid in cash, but may be paid wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of marketable securities. Brokerage costs may be incurred by a shareholder who receives securities and desires to convert them to cash.

Excessive and Short-Term Trading. The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes, and thus purchases, redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares should be made with a view toward long-term investment objectives. Excessive trading, short-term trading and other abusive trading activities may be detrimental to the Fund and its long-term shareholders by disrupting portfolio management strategies, increasing brokerage and administrative cost, harming Fund performance and diluting the value of shares. Such trading may also require the Fund to sell securities to meet redemptions, which could cause taxable events that impact shareholders. If your investment horizon is not long-term, then you should not invest in the Fund.

The Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures that seek to discourage and not accommodate excessive or short-term trading activities. These policies and procedures include, among other things, use of fair value pricing of international securities and periodic review of shareholder trading activity.

Despite the Fund’s efforts to detect and prevent abusive trading activity, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify all of those who may engage in abusive trading and curtail their activity in every instance. In particular, it may be difficult to curtail such activity in certain omnibus accounts and other accounts traded through intermediaries, despite arrangements the Fund has entered into with the intermediaries to provide access to account level trading information. Omnibus accounts are comprised of multiple investors whose purchases, exchanges and redemptions are aggregated before being submitted to the Fund.

OTHER POLICIES

No Certificates. The issuance of shares is recorded electronically on the books of the Fund. You will receive a confirmation of, or account statement reflecting, each new transaction in your account, which will also show the total number of shares of the Fund you own. You can rely on these statements in lieu of certificates. The Fund does not issue certificates representing shares of the Fund.

Frozen Accounts. The Fund may be required to “freeze” your account if there appears to be suspicious activity or if account information matches information on a government list of known terrorists or other suspicious persons.

Small Account Policy. The Fund reserves the right, upon 60 days’ written notice, to redeem, at net asset value, the shares of any shareholder whose account(s) across all AQR Funds has a value of less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate, other than as a result of a decline in the net asset value per share, or to permit an exchange for Class N Shares of the Fund. This policy will not be implemented where the Fund has previously waived the minimum investment requirement for that shareholder.

Before the Fund redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value of the shares in the account is less than the minimum amount and will allow the shareholder 60 days to make an additional investment in an amount that will increase the value of the account(s) to at least $1,000,000 across The AQR Funds before the redemption is processed. As a sale of your Fund shares, this redemption may have tax consequences.

 

25


HOW TO BUY CLASS I SHARES

HOW TO BUY SHARES

You can open an account and make an initial purchase of shares of the Fund directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into appropriate arrangements with the Fund’s Distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc.

To open an account and make an initial purchase directly with the Fund, you can mail a check or other negotiable bank draft (payable to AQR Funds) in the applicable minimum amount, along with a completed and signed Account Application, to AQR Funds, AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248. To obtain an Account Application, call 1-866-290-2688 or download one from www.aqrfunds.com. A completed Account Application must include your valid taxpayer identification number. You may be subject to penalties if you falsify information with respect to your tax identification number.

Payment must be in U.S. dollars by a check drawn on a bank in the United States, wire transfer or electronic transfer. The Fund will not accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks (except for properly endorsed IRA rollover checks), checks drawn on foreign banks or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies. Shares purchased by checks that are returned will be canceled and you will be liable for any losses or fees incurred by the Fund or its agents, including bank handling charges for returned checks.

You may also purchase Fund shares by wire transfer from your bank account to your Fund account. To place a purchase by wire, please call 1-866-290-2688 for more information.

After you have opened an account, you can make subsequent purchases of shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary or directly from the Fund, depending on where your account is established. To purchase shares directly by mail, send your instruction and a check to AQR Funds at AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248.

Depending upon the terms of your account, you may pay account fees for services provided in connection with your investment in the Fund. The Fund has authorized certain financial intermediaries (such as broker-dealers, investment advisors or financial institutions) to accept purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. These financial intermediaries may charge their customers a transaction or service fee. The Fund or your financial intermediary can provide you with information about these services and charges. You should read this prospectus in conjunction with any such information you receive.

AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN:

The Fund offers an Automatic Investment Plan for current and prospective investors in which you may make monthly investments in the Fund. Sums for investment will be automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account on the day you specify. If you do not specify a day, the transaction will occur on the 20th of each month or the next Business Day if the 20th is not a Business Day. Please call 1-866-290-2688 if you would like more information.

CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person that opens a new account, and to determine whether such person’s name appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations.

As a result, the Fund must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

 

   

Name;

 

   

Date of birth (for individuals);

 

   

Residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and

 

   

Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number.

 

26


You may also be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities.

Federal law prohibits the Fund and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information listed above. After an account is opened, the Fund may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Fund may close your account or take other appropriate action if they are unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time. If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed.

The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares when an investor’s identity is not verified.

eDELIVERY

eDelivery allows you to receive your quarterly account statements, transaction confirmations and other important information concerning your investment in the Fund online. Select this option on your account application to receive email notifications when quarterly statements and confirmations are available for you to view via secure online access. You will also receive emails whenever a new prospectus, semi-annual or annual fund report is available. To establish eDelivery, call 1-866-290-2688 or visit www.aqrfunds.com.

 

27


HOW TO REDEEM CLASS I SHARES

You may normally redeem your shares on any Business Day, i.e., any day during which the NYSE is open for trading. Redemptions of Class I Shares are priced at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of a redemption request in good order by the Fund’s Distributor, the Fund or an authorized agent of the Fund. A financial intermediary may charge its customers a transaction or service fee in connection with redemptions, and will have its own procedures for arranging for redemptions of the Fund’s shares. If you have purchased your Fund shares through a financial intermediary, consult your intermediary for more information.

None of the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent of the Fund, nor any of their affiliates or agents will be liable for any loss, expense or cost when acting upon any oral, wired or electronically transmitted instructions or inquiries believed by them to be genuine. While precautions will be taken, as more fully described below, you bear the risk of any loss as the result of unauthorized telephone redemptions or exchanges believed to be genuine. The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine. These procedures include recording phone conversations, sending confirmations to shareholders within 72 hours of the telephone transaction, verifying the account name and sending redemption proceeds only to the address of record or to a previously authorized bank account.

BY TELEPHONE

You may redeem your shares by telephone if you choose that option on your Account Application. If you did not originally select the telephone option, you must provide written instructions to the Fund in order to add this option. The maximum amount that may be redeemed by telephone at any one time is $50,000. You may have the proceeds mailed to your address of record or wired to a bank account previously designated on the Account Application.

BY MAIL

To redeem by mail, you must send a written request for redemption to the Fund, AQR Funds, P. O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248. The Fund’s Transfer Agent will require a Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association, or other financial institution that is participating in a medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. Signature guarantees from financial institutions that are not participating in one of these programs are not accepted as Medallion Signature Guarantees. The Medallion Signature Guarantee requirement will be waived if all of the following conditions apply (1) the redemption check is payable to the shareholder(s) of record, (2) the redemption check is mailed to the shareholder(s) at the address of record, (3) an application is on file with the Transfer Agent, and (4) the proceeds of the redemption are $50,000 or less. The Transfer Agent cannot send an overnight package to a post office box.

BY SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL

You may elect to have monthly electronic transfers ($250 minimum) made to your bank account from your Fund account. Your Fund account must have a minimum balance of $10,000 and automatically have all dividends and capital gains reinvested. The transfer will be made on the Business Day you specify (or the next Business Day) to your designated account or a check will be mailed to your address of record. If you do not specify a day, the transfer will be made on the 20th day of each month or the next Business Day if the 20th is not a Business Day.

RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

To redeem shares from an IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, 403(b) or other retirement account, you must mail a completed and signed Distribution Form to the Fund. You may not redeem shares of an IRA, Roth IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEPIRA, 403(b) or other retirement account by telephone or via the Internet.

PAYMENTS OF REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

Redemption orders are valued at the NAV per share next determined after the shares are properly tendered for redemption, as described above. Payment for shares redeemed generally will be made within seven days after receipt of a valid request for redemption. The Fund may temporarily stop redeeming shares or delay payment of redemption

 

28


proceeds when the NYSE is closed or trading on the NYSE is restricted, when an emergency exists and the Fund cannot sell shares or accurately determine the value of assets, or if the SEC orders the Fund to suspend redemptions or delay payment of redemption proceeds.

 

29


At various times, the Fund may be requested to redeem shares for which it has not yet received good payment. If this is the case, the forwarding of proceeds may be delayed until payment has been collected for the purchase of the shares. The delay may last 15 days or more. The Fund intends to forward the redemption proceeds as soon as good payment for purchase orders has been received. This delay may be avoided if shares are purchased by wire transfer. The Fund intends to pay cash for all shares redeemed, except in cases noted above under the heading “General Redemption Policies,” in which case payment for certain large redemptions may be made wholly or partly in portfolio securities that have a market value equal to the redemption price. You may incur brokerage costs in converting the portfolio securities to cash.

BY CHECK

You may have a check for the redemption proceeds mailed to your address of record. To change the address to which a redemption check is to be mailed, you must send a written request with a Medallion Signature Guarantee to the Funds, AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248.

BY ACH TRANSFER

If your bank account is ACH active, you may have your redemption proceeds sent to your bank account via ACH transfer.

BY WIRE TRANSFER

You can arrange for the proceeds of a redemption to be sent by wire transfer to a single previously designated bank account if you have given authorization for expedited wire redemption on your Fund Account Application. This redemption option does not apply to shares held in broker “street name” accounts. If a request for a wire redemption is received by the Fund prior to the close of the NYSE, the shares will be redeemed that day at the next determined NAV, and the proceeds will generally be sent to the designated bank account the next Business Day. The bank must be a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption request may be delayed by the Fund for up to seven days if deemed appropriate under then current market conditions. Redeeming shareholders will be notified if a delay in transmitting proceeds is anticipated. The Fund cannot be responsible for the efficiency of the Federal Reserve wire system or the shareholder’s bank. You are responsible for any charges imposed by your bank. The Fund reserves the right to terminate the wire redemption privilege. Shares purchased by check may not be redeemed by wire transfer until the shares have been owned (i.e., paid for) for at least 15 days. To change the name of the single bank account designated to receive wire redemption proceeds, you must send a written request with a Medallion Signature Guarantee to the Fund, AQR Funds, P. O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248. If you elect to have the payment wired to your bank, a wire transfer fee of $30.00 will be charged by the Fund.

 

30


CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

The Fund or the Adviser also may enter into agreements with certain intermediaries under which the Fund makes payments to the intermediaries in recognition of the avoided transfer agency costs to the Fund associated with the intermediaries’ maintenance of customer accounts or in recognition of the services provided by intermediaries through mutual fund platforms. Payments made out of the Funds under such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net asset value of the customer shares serviced by the intermediary, up to a set maximum, or (2) a per account fee assessed against each account serviced by such intermediary, up to a set maximum. These payments are in addition to other payments described in this prospectus.

The Adviser (or an affiliate) also may make additional payments out of its own resources to certain intermediaries or their affiliates based on sales or assets attributable to the intermediary, or such other criteria agreed to by the Adviser in connection with the sale or distribution of the Fund’s shares or the administration of shareholder accounts. The Adviser selects the intermediaries to which it or its affiliate makes payments. These additional payments to intermediaries, which are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing” payments, may represent a premium over payments made by other fund families, and investment professionals may have an added incentive to sell or recommend the Fund or a share class of the Fund over others offered by competing fund families. Ask your investment professional for more information.

The Adviser and the Fund’s Distributor may make other payments or allow promotional incentives to broker-dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations.

 

31


DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund distributes to its shareholders substantially all net investment income as dividends and any net capital gains realized from sales of the Fund’s portfolio securities. The Fund expects to declare and pay dividends annually. Net realized long-term capital gains, if any, are paid to shareholders at least annually.

All of your income dividends and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in additional shares unless you elect to have distributions paid by check. If any check from the Fund mailed to you is returned as undeliverable or is not presented for payment within six months, the Trust reserves the right to reinvest the check proceeds and future distributions in additional Fund shares.

TAXES

The following discussion of U.S. and non-U.S. taxation applies only to U.S. shareholders and is not intended to be a full discussion of income tax laws and their effect. You may wish to consult your own tax advisor.

Taxes on Transactions. When you redeem shares, you will experience a capital gain or loss if there is a difference between the tax basis of your shares and the price you receive when you redeem them. The federal tax treatment will depend on how long you owned the shares and your individual tax position. Any loss recognized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions that were received with respect to the shares. You may be subject to state and local taxes on your investment in the Fund, depending on the laws of your home state or locality.

Exchanges. If you perform an exchange transaction, it is considered a sale and purchase of shares for federal income tax purposes and may result in a capital gain or loss.

Distributions. Distributions from investment income (dividends) and net short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income except as noted below. Distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time you have held your Fund shares. Although the Fund will not be taxed on amounts it distributes, distributions will be taxable to you whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares, unless you hold your Fund shares in an individual retirement account or other tax-deferred account. These accounts are subject to complex tax rules and you should consult your tax advisor about which tax rules will apply to your investment.

The Trust will send you an annual statement to advise you as to the source of your distributions for tax purposes.

Taxes on Distributions. Distributions are subject to federal income tax, and may be subject to state or local taxes. If you are a U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S., your distributions also may be taxed by the country in which you reside. Your distributions are taxable whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.

For federal tax purposes, the Fund’s income and short-term capital gain distributions are taxed as ordinary income and long-term capital gain distributions are taxed as long-term capital gains, except that “qualified dividend income” of noncorporate investors who satisfy certain holding period requirements is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15%. The 15% maximum rate for long-term capital gains is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. After 2012, the capital gains rate is scheduled to increase to 20% and income from dividends would be taxed as ordinary income. The character of a capital gain depends on the length of time that the Fund held the asset it sold.

Beginning in 2013, a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will be imposed on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gain, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly), and of estates and trusts.

Every January, the Fund will send you and the IRS a statement called Form 1099 showing the amount of taxable distributions you received (including those reinvested in additional shares) in the previous calendar year.

 

32


Upon the sale or exchange of his shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and his basis in his shares. A redemption of shares by the fund will be treated as a sale for this purpose. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (discussed above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Average Cost Calculation. Each shareholder is responsible for tax reporting and Fund share cost calculation. To facilitate your tax reporting, the Fund provides you with an average cost statement with your 1099 tax form. This average cost statement is based on transaction activity in an account for the period during which you held the account directly with the Fund.

Buying Into a Distribution. Purchasing a Fund’s shares in a taxable account shortly before a distribution by the Fund is sometimes called “buying into a distribution.” You pay income taxes on a distribution whether you reinvest the distribution in shares of the Fund or receive it in cash. In addition, you pay taxes on the distribution whether the value of your investment decreased, increased or remained the same after you bought shares of the Fund.

A Fund may build up capital gains during the period covered by a distribution (over the course of the year, for example) when securities in the Fund’s portfolio are sold at a profit. After subtracting any capital losses, the Fund distributes those gains to you and other shareholders, even if you did not own the shares when the gains occurred (if you did not hold the Fund earlier in the year, for example), and you incur the full tax liability on the distribution.

Non-U.S. Income Taxes. Investment income received by the Fund from sources within non-U.S. countries may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes withheld at the source. If the Fund pays nonrefundable taxes to non-U.S. countries during the year, the taxes will reduce the Fund’s return. However, if the Fund qualifies for, and makes, a special election, such non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund will be included as an amount deemed distributed to shareholders as taxable income, and you may be able to claim an offsetting credit or deduction on your tax return for your share of these non-U.S. taxes.

Backup Withholding. You must furnish to the Fund your properly certified social security or other tax identification number to avoid federal income tax backup withholding on dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds. If you do not do so or the IRS informs the Fund that your tax identification number is incorrect, the Fund may be required to withhold a percentage (currently 28%) of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds. Because the Fund must promptly pay to the IRS all amounts withheld, it is usually not possible for the Fund to reimburse you for amounts withheld. You may claim the amount withheld as a credit on your federal income tax return.

 

33


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, no financial performance information for the Fund is available.

 

34


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following is a glossary of terms used throughout this prospectus and their definitions. This glossary is set forth solely for reference purposes. The terms summarized or referenced in this glossary are qualified in their entirety by the prospectus itself.

 

1940 Act

  the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
 

Adviser

  AQR Capital Management, LLC
 

Board of Trustees

  the Board of Trustees of the AQR Funds or any duly authorized committee thereof, as permitted by applicable law
 

Business Day

  each day during which the NYSE is open for trading
 

Code

  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
 

Convertible Securities

  fixed-income securities that are convertible into common stock
 

Distributor

  ALPS Distributors, Inc.
 

Good order

  a purchase, exchange or redemption order is in “good order” when a Fund, its Distributor and/or its agent, receives all required information, including properly completed and signed documents
 

IRS

  the Internal Revenue Service
 

Management Agreement

  the Investment Management Agreement under which the Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Fund
 

Mutual fund

  an investment company registered under the 1940 Act that pools the money of many investors and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time
 

NAV

  the net asset value of a particular Fund
 

NYSE

  the New York Stock Exchange
 

SEC

  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
 

Subsidiary

  [AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Offshore Fund Ltd.,] a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company
 

Sub-Adviser

  CNH Partners, LLC
 

Sub-Advisory Agreement

  the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement under which the Sub-Adviser serves as investment sub-adviser to the Fund
 

Transfer Agent

  ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
 

Trust

  AQR Funds, a Delaware statutory trust
 

Volatility

  a statistical measurement of up and down asset price fluctuations over time. If an asset has rapid dramatic price swings, its volatility will likely be relatively high. If prices are consistent and rarely change, volatility of that asset will likely be relatively low. Volatility can be measured as the standard deviation of an asset with a specific time horizon. It is often used to quantify the risk of such asset over a time period, typically expressed in annualized terms

 

35


You may wish to read the Statement of Additional Information for more information about the Funds. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means that it is considered to be part of this prospectus.

You may obtain free copies of the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, request other information, and discuss your questions about the Funds by writing or calling:

AQR Funds

P.O. Box 2248

Denver, CO 80201-2248

(866) 290-2688

The requested documents will be sent within three Business Days of your request.

You may also obtain the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information, along with other information, free of charge, by visiting the Funds’ Web site at www.aqrfunds.com.

Text-only versions of all Fund documents can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 202-942-8090. In addition, copies of the Fund documents may be obtained, after mailing the appropriate duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102 or by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.

AQR Funds

Investment Company Act File No.: 811-22235


The information in this statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

AQR Funds

Statement of Additional Information

INTERNATIONAL AND GLOBAL EQUITY FUNDS

AQR Global Equity Fund

AQR International Equity Fund

ABSOLUTE RETURN FUNDS

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund

AQR Risk Parity Fund

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund

AQR MOMENTUM FUNDS

AQR Momentum Fund

AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund

AQR International Momentum Fund

[            ], 2011

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

1-866-290-2688

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund dated [            ], 2011 (“Prospectus”) which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and can be obtained, without charge, by writing to AQR Funds, P.O. Box 2248, Denver, CO 80201-2248 or calling the telephone number given above. This SAI is incorporated by reference in its entirety in the Prospectus. Copies of the Prospectus, SAI and the most current annual and semi-annual reports, when available, may be obtained without charge by writing the address or calling the phone number shown above. The portions of this SAI that do not relate to the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund have not been incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and should not be relied upon by investors in the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund. Each series of AQR Funds has distinct investment objectives and strategies.

 

Fund

  

Ticker Symbol

AQR Global Equity Fund   

Class N

   AQGNX

Class I

   AQGIX

Class Y

   AQGYX
AQR International Equity Fund   

Class N

   AQINX

Class I

   AQIIX

Class Y

   AQIYX
AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund   

Class N

   ADANX

Class I

   ADAIX
AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund   

Class N

   AQMNX

Class I

   AQMIX
AQR Risk Parity Fund   

Class N

   AQRNX

Class I

   AQRIX
AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund   

Class N

   [            ]

Class I

   [            ]
AQR Momentum Fund (Class L)    AMOMX
AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund (Class L)    ASMOX
AQR International Momentum Fund (Class L)    AIMOX


SECURITIES, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

     1   

Arbitrage Strategies

     1   

Borrowing and Leverage

     2   

Callable Bonds

     2   

Cash Management/Temporary Investments

     2   

Convertible Securities

     2   

Corporate Loans

     3   

Debt Obligations

     4   

Distressed Investments

     4   

Depositary Receipts

     4   

Emerging Markets Investments

     4   

Equity Securities

     5   

Exchange-Traded Funds

     5   

Exchange Traded Notes

     5   

Foreign Government Debt Obligations

     6   

Foreign Investments

     6   

Foreign Exchange Risk and Currency Transactions

     7   

Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options

     7   

Hedging Transactions

     15   

Illiquid Securities

     16   

IPOs and SEOs

     16   

Loans of Portfolio Securities

     16   

Margin Deposits and Cover Requirements for Future Contracts

     17   

Momentum Style Risk

     17   

PIPEs

     17   

ReFlow Liquidity Program

     18   

Repurchase Agreements

     18   

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

     18   

Rights and Warrants

     18   

Securities of other Investment Companies

     19   

Short Sales

     19   

SPACs

     19   

Structured Notes

     20   

U.S. Government Securities

     20   

Risks Related to the Adviser and to its Quantitative and Statistical Approach

     20   

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

     21   

NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES RELATED TO FUND NAMES

     22   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

     23   

Leadership Structure of the Board of Trustees

     24   

Board of Trustees and Committees

     25   

Committees of the Board of Trustees

     26   

Fund Ownership of the Trustees

     26   

Fund Ownership of the Trustees and Officers

     27   

Compensation of Trustees and Certain Officers

     27   

COMPENSATION TABLE

     28   


Personal Trading

     28   

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     28   

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

     28   

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

     29   

Investment Adviser

     29   

Investment Sub-Adviser

     31   

Portfolio Manager Compensation

     31   

Portfolio Manager Holdings

     32   

Other Accounts Managed

     33   

Administrator and Fund Accountant

     34   

Distributor

     34   

Distribution Plan

     35   

Custodian

     36   

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

     36   

Shareholder Servicing Agreement

     36   

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

     36   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     38   

Cut-Off Time for Purchase and Redemption Orders

     38   

Purchases In-Kind

     38   

Redemptions In-Kind

     38   

Involuntary Redemptions

     39   

Other Purchase and Redemption Information

     39   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

     39   

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     39   

ORGANIZATION OF THE TRUST AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE SHARES

     42   

TAXATION

     47   

Taxation of the Funds

     47   

Distributions

     48   

Sale of Shares

     49   

Original Issue Discount Securities

     49   

Market Discount Bonds

     49   

Futures, Options and Hedging Transactions

     49   

Currency Fluctuations-“Section 988” Gains or Losses

     50   

Short Sales

     50   

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

     50   

Foreign Withholding Taxes

     51   

Backup Withholding

     51   

Foreign Shareholders

     51   

Other Taxation

     52   

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     52   

 


REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     52   

APPENDIX A – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

     53   


STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AQR Funds (“Trust”) is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on September 4, 2008, and is currently composed of fourteen series: AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR International Small Cap Fund, AQR Emerging Markets Fund, AQR Equity Plus Fund, AQR Small Cap Core Fund, AQR Small Cap Growth Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, “Funds”). Each Fund has distinct investment objectives and strategies. This SAI relates only to the AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund. The AQR International Small Cap Fund, AQR Emerging Markets Fund, AQR Equity Plus Fund, AQR Small Cap Core Fund and AQR Small Cap Growth Fund have not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI.

The AQR Global Equity Fund and the AQR International Equity Fund have acquired the assets and liabilities of a corresponding privately offered fund managed by AQR Capital Management, LLC, the Funds’ investment adviser (“Adviser”), in a reorganization completed on the date each Fund commenced operations. Each privately offered fund had an investment objective and investment policies that were, in all material respects, the same as those of the corresponding Fund. However, the privately offered funds were not registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), and were not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements, liquidity requirements and other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”).

The Trust and the Adviser have retained CNH Partners, LLC (“Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of the Adviser, to serve as an investment sub-adviser to the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and with respect to certain sub-strategies of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund.

Much of the information contained in this SAI expands on subjects discussed in each Fund’s respective Prospectus. No investment in the shares of any of the Funds should be made without first reading the Prospectus. All terms defined in the Prospectus have the same meaning in the SAI.

SECURITIES, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

The following descriptions supplement the descriptions of the investment objectives, strategies and related risks of each Fund as set forth in the Prospectus.

Subject to the investment policies and restrictions as described in the Prospectus and in this SAI, each Fund may invest in any of the following securities or pursue any of the following investment strategies unless noted otherwise.

Arbitrage Strategies (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

The Funds may use a variety of arbitrage strategies in pursuing their investment strategy. The underlying relationships among securities in which each Fund takes investment positions may change in an adverse manner, in which case the Fund may realize losses. The expected gain on an individual arbitrage investment is normally considerably smaller than the possible loss should the transaction be unexpectedly terminated. The expected timing of each transaction is also extremely important since the length of time that the Fund’s capital must be committed to any given transaction will affect the rate of return realized by the Fund, and delays can substantially reduce such returns. Therefore, unanticipated delays in timing could cause the Fund to lose money or not achieve the desired rate of return. Trading to seek short-term capital appreciation can be expected to cause the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate to be substantially higher than that of the average equity-oriented investment company and, as a result, may involve increased brokerage commission costs which will be borne directly by the Fund and ultimately by its investors. Certain investments of the Fund may, under certain circumstances, be subject to rapid and sizable losses.

One type of arbitrage transaction that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser anticipate employing involves purchasing the shares of an announced acquisition target at a discount from the expected value of such shares upon completion of the acquisition. The size of the discount, or spread, and whether the potential reward justifies the potential risk are functions of numerous factors affecting the riskiness and timing of the acquisition. Such factors include the status of the negotiations between the two companies (for example, spreads typically narrow as the parties advance from an agreement in principle to a definitive agreement), the complexity of the transaction, the number of regulatory approvals required, the likelihood of government intervention on antitrust or other grounds, the type of consideration to be received and the possibility of competing offers for the target company.


Borrowing and Leverage (all Funds)

Each Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time. This borrowing may be unsecured. The 1940 Act precludes a fund from borrowing if, as a result of such borrowing, the total amount of all money borrowed by a fund exceeds 331/3% of the value of its total assets (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) at the time of such borrowings. This means that the 1940 Act requires a fund to maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% of the amount borrowed. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, a Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time, and could cause the Fund to be unable to meet certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code.

Borrowing has a leveraging effect because it tends to exaggerate the effect on a Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share of any changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs and other fees, which may or may not be recovered by earnings on the securities purchased. A Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with a borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. Unless the appreciation and income, if any, on assets acquired with borrowed funds exceed the costs of borrowing, the use of leverage will diminish the investment performance of a fund compared with what it would have been without leverage.

The SEC takes the position that other transactions that have a leveraging effect on the capital structure of a fund or can be viewed as constituting a form of “senior security” of the fund for purposes of the 1940 Act. These transactions may include selling securities short, buying and selling certain derivatives (such as futures contracts), selling (or writing) put and call options, engaging in when-issued, delayed-delivery, forward-commitment or reverse repurchase transactions and other trading practices that have a leveraging effect on the capital structure of a fund or may be viewed as economically equivalent to borrowing. A borrowing transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance of a “senior security” by a Fund if the Fund (1) maintains an offsetting financial position, (2) maintains liquid assets in a sufficient value to cover the Fund’s potential obligation under the borrowing transaction not offset or covered as provided in (1) and (3), or (3) otherwise “covers” the transaction in accordance with applicable SEC guidance (collectively, “covers” the transaction). The value of a Fund’s holdings in such instruments are marked-to-market daily to ensure proper coverage. A Fund may have to buy or sell a security at a disadvantageous time or price in order to cover such transaction. In addition, assets being maintained to cover such transactions may not be available to satisfy redemptions or for other purposes or obligations.

Callable Bonds (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

Some bonds give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the bonds before their maturity date. If an issuer “calls” its bond during a time of declining interest rates, a Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield. During periods of market illiquidity or rising interest rates, prices of a Fund’s “callable” issues are subject to increased price fluctuation.

Cash Management/Temporary Investments (all Funds)

A Fund can hold uninvested cash or can invest it in cash equivalents such as money market instruments, interests in short-term investment funds, repurchase agreements, or shares of money market or short-term bond funds. Generally, these securities offer less potential for gains than other types of securities.

A Fund also may adopt temporary defensive positions by investing up to 100% of its assets in these instruments, even if the investments are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies, in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. To the extent a Fund invests in these temporary investments in this manner, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Convertible Securities (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may invest in preferred stocks or fixed-income securities which are convertible into common stock. Convertible securities are securities that may be converted either at a stated price or rate within a specified period of time into a specified number of shares of common stock. Traditionally, convertible securities have paid dividends or interest greater than on the related common stocks, but less than fixed income non-convertible securities. By investing in a convertible security, a Fund may participate in any capital appreciation or depreciation of a company’s stock, but to a lesser degree than if it had invested in that company’s common stock. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock. The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (its value as if it did not have a conversion privilege), and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth if it were to be exchanged for the underlying security, at market value, pursuant to its conversion privilege). A Fund may attempt to hedge certain of its investments in convertible debt securities by selling short the issuer’s common stock.

 

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Corporate Loans (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

The Fund may invest in “Corporate Loans,” including senior secured floating rate loans and other types of loans, such as fixed rate unsecured or delayed draw loans (together, “Loans”). Corporate Loans are made to corporations and other non-governmental entities and issuers. Senior secured Corporate Loans typically hold the most senior position in the capital structure of the issuing entity, are typically secured with specific collateral and typically have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. Unsecured Corporate Loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior secured Corporate Loans. However, because unsecured loans have lower priority in right of payment to any higher ranking obligations of the borrower and are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral, they are subject to additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and available assets may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to any higher ranking obligations of the borrower. Unsecured Corporate Loans generally have greater price volatility than senior secured Corporate Loans and may be less liquid.

The proceeds of Corporate Loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends, internal growth and for other corporate purposes. Corporate Loans typically have rates of interest that are determined daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium or credit spread. Base lending rates in common usage today are primarily the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), and secondarily the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. The risks associated with Corporate Loans of below investment grade quality are similar to the risks of bonds rated below investment grade, although senior secured Corporate Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to bonds rated below investment grade, which are generally subordinated and unsecured. Senior secured Corporate Loans’ higher standing has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries in the event of a corporate reorganization. In addition, because their interest payments are adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, investments in senior secured Corporate Loans generally have less interest rate risk than below-investment-grade rated bonds.

An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a debt obligation may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a Loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the Loan’s value. Like other debt instruments, Corporate Loans are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. Such non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the investment and a potential decrease in the net asset value per share of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral securing a Loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of bankruptcy of a borrower, the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing a Corporate Loan. The collateral securing a Corporate Loan may lose all or substantially all of its value in the event of bankruptcy of a borrower. Some Corporate Loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such Corporate Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of Corporate Loans including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such Corporate Loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. If interest were required to be refunded, it could negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio Corporate Loans where the borrowers have experienced, or may be perceived to be likely to experience, credit problems, including default, involvement in or recent emergence from bankruptcy reorganization proceedings or other forms of debt restructuring. At times, in connection with the restructuring of a Corporate Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Fund may determine or be required to accept equity securities or junior debt securities in exchange for all or a portion of a Corporate Loan. Corporate Loans in which the Fund will invest may not be rated by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (“NRSRO”), may not be registered with the SEC or any state securities commission, and may not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information available with respect to Corporate Loans may be less extensive than available for registered or exchange-listed securities. No active trading market may exist for some Corporate Loans and some Corporate Loans may be subject to restrictions on resale. Secondary markets may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods, which may impair the ability to realize full value and thus cause a decline in the Fund’s net asset value. During periods of limited demand and liquidity for Corporate Loans, the Fund’s net asset value may be adversely affected. Other factors (including, but not limited to, rating downgrades, credit deterioration, a large downward movement in stock prices, a disparity in supply and demand of certain investments or market conditions that reduce liquidity) can reduce the value of Corporate Loans and other debt obligations, impairing the Fund’s net asset value.

The Fund may purchase Corporate Loans by assignment from a participant in the original syndicate of lenders or from subsequent assignees of such interests, or can buy a participation in a loan. The Fund may also purchase participations in the original syndicate making Corporate Loans. Loan participations typically represent indirect participations in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. When purchasing loan participations, the Fund

 

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assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Corporate Loans or Corporate Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Loans and other debt instruments are also subject to the risk of price declines due to increases in prevailing interest rates, although floating-rate debt instruments are less exposed to this risk than fixed-rate debt instruments. Interest rate changes may also increase prepayments of debt obligations and require the Fund to invest assets at lower yields. No active trading market may exist for certain Loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to liquidate such assets. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded Loans.

Debt Obligations (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may invest in corporate bonds and other evidences of corporate indebtedness (“debt securities”), including debt securities issued by companies involved in publicly announced mergers, takeovers and other corporate reorganizations, including reorganizations undertaken pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Although generally not as risky as the equity securities of the same issuer, debt securities may gain or lose value due to changes in interest rates and other general economic conditions, industry fundamentals, market sentiment and the issuer’s operating results, balance sheet and credit ratings. The market value of debt securities issued by companies involved in pending corporate mergers and takeovers may be determined in large part by the status of the transaction and its eventual outcome, especially if the debt securities are subject to change-of-control provisions that entitle the holder to be paid par value or some other specified dollar amount upon completion of the merger or takeover. Accordingly, the principal risk associated with investing in these debt securities is the possibility that the transaction may not be completed.

Depositary Receipts (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may purchase American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. These risks include the political and economic risks of the underlying issuer’s country, as well as in the case of depositary receipts traded on non-U.S. markets, exchange risk. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be sponsored or unsponsored. The issuer of a sponsored receipt typically bears certain expenses of maintaining the depositary receipt facility. Unsponsored receipts are established without the participation of the issuer. Unsponsored receipts may involve higher expenses, they may not pass-through voting or other shareholder rights, and they may be less liquid. Holders of unsponsored receipts generally bear all the costs of the depositary receipt facility. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications. AQR Emerging Markets Fund may treat certain ADRs as emerging market investments for purposes of compliance with its investment strategy and policies.

Distressed Investments (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

The Fund may invest in distressed investments, which are issued by companies that are, or might be, involved in reorganizations or financial restructurings, either out of court or in bankruptcy. The Fund’s investments in distressed securities typically may involve the purchase of high-yield bonds, bank debt, corporate loans or other indebtedness of such companies. These investments may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to an investment, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Among the risks inherent in investments in a troubled issuer is that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true financial condition of the issuer. The Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s judgments about the credit quality of a financially distressed issuer and the relative value of its securities may prove to be wrong. No active trading market may exist for certain distressed investments, including corporate loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to liquidate such assets. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded distressed investments.

Emerging Markets Investments (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may invest in emerging markets investments, which have exposure to the risks discussed above relating to foreign instruments more generally, as well as certain additional risks. A high proportion of the shares of many issuers in emerging market countries may be held by a limited number of persons and financial institutions, which may

 

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limit the number of shares available for investment. The prices at which investments may be acquired may be affected by trading by persons with material non-public information and by securities transactions by brokers in anticipation of transactions by a Fund in particular securities. In addition, emerging market investments are susceptible to being influenced by large investors trading significant blocks of securities.

Emerging market stock markets are undergoing a period of growth and change which may result in trading volatility and difficulties in the settlement and recording of transactions, and in interpreting and applying the relevant law and regulations. The securities industries in these countries is comparatively underdeveloped. Stockbrokers and other intermediaries in the emerging markets may not perform as well as their counterparts in the United States and other more developed securities markets.

Political and economic structures in many emerging market countries are undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of the United States. Certain of such countries may have, in the past, failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the values of investments in those countries and the availability of additional investments in those countries. The laws of countries in emerging markets relating to limited liability of corporate shareholders, fiduciary duties of officers and directors, and the bankruptcy of state enterprises are generally less well developed than or different from such laws in the United States. It may be more difficult to obtain or enforce a judgment in the courts of these countries than it is in the United States. Emerging securities markets are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the United States. Although some governments in emerging markets have instituted economic reform policies, there can be no assurances that such policies will continue or succeed.

Equity Securities (all Funds)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may purchase equity securities or be exposed to equity securities through derivative instruments. Equity securities may include common and preferred stock, convertible securities, private investments in public equities, depositary receipts and warrants. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in a company. This interest often gives a Fund the right to vote on measures affecting the company’s organization and operations. Equity securities have a history of long-term growth in value, but their prices tend to fluctuate in the shorter term. Preferred stock generally does not exhibit as great a potential for appreciation or depreciation as common stock, although it ranks above common stock in its claim on income for dividend payments.

The market value of all securities, including equity securities, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measure of a company’s worth.

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) (all Funds)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may purchase ETFs. ETFs are investment companies whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. A Fund could purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying securities directly. See also “Securities of Other Investment Companies” below.

Exchange Traded Notes (“ETNs”) (all Funds)

Certain Funds may invest in ETNs. ETNs are generally notes representing debt of the issuer, usually a financial institution. ETNs combine both aspects of bonds and ETFs. An ETN’s returns are based on the performance of one or more underlying assets, reference rates or indexes, minus fees and expenses. Similar to ETFs, ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. However, unlike an ETF, an ETN can be held until the ETN’s maturity, at which time the issuer will pay a return linked to the performance of the specific asset, index or rate (“reference instrument”) to which the ETN is linked minus certain fees. Unlike regular bonds, ETNs do not make periodic interest payments, and principal is not protected.

The value of an ETN may be influenced by, among other things, time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, the performance of the reference instrument, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the reference instrument. An ETN that is tied to a reference instrument may not replicate the performance of the reference instrument. ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by their applicable reference instrument. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Levered ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. While leverage allows for greater potential return, the potential for loss is also greater. Finally, additional losses may be incurred if the investment loses value because, in addition to the money lost on the investment, the loan still needs to be repaid.

 

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Because the return on the ETN is dependent on the issuer’s ability or willingness to meet its obligations, the value of the ETN may change due to a change in the issuer’s credit rating, despite no change in the underlying reference instrument. The market value of ETN shares may differ from the value of the reference instrument. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the assets underlying the reference instrument that the ETN seeks to track.

There may be restrictions on the Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which are generally meant to be held until maturity. The Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. An investor in an ETN could lose some or all of the amount invested.

Foreign Government Debt Obligations (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund AQR Risk Parity Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

Investments in sovereign debt obligations involve special risks which are not present in corporate debt obligations. The foreign issuer of the sovereign debt or the foreign governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, and the Fund may have limited recourse in the event of a default. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of sovereign debt, and the NAV of the Fund, to the extent it invests in such securities, may be more volatile than prices of U.S. debt issuers. In the past, certain foreign countries have encountered difficulties in servicing their debt obligations, withheld payments of principal and interest and declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on their sovereign debt.

A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange, the relative size of the debt service burden, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward principal international lenders and local political constraints. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and other entities to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt.

Holders of sovereign debt may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. In the event of a default by a governmental entity, there may be few or no effective legal remedies for collecting on such debt.

Foreign Investments (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may invest in securities and other investments (which may be denominated in U.S. dollars or non-U.S. currencies) issued or guaranteed by foreign corporations, certain supranational entities and foreign governments or their agencies or instrumentalities, and in securities issued by U.S. corporations denominated in non-U.S. currencies. All such investments are referred to as “foreign instruments.”

Investing in foreign instruments offers potential benefits not available from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers, including the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer investment potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets.

Investments in foreign instruments present additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in domestic securities: reduction of income due to foreign taxes; fluctuation in value of foreign portfolio investments due to changes in currency rates and control regulations (e.g., currency blockage); transaction charges for currency exchange; lack of public information about foreign issuers; lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers; less trading volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges; greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the United States; less regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and brokers than in the United States; greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits and obtaining judgments in foreign courts; higher brokerage commission rates than in the United States; increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities; requirement of payment for investments prior to settlement possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political, financial or social instability or adverse diplomatic developments; and unfavorable differences between the United States economy and foreign economies. In the past, U.S. Government policies have discouraged certain investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions, and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.

 

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Foreign Exchange Risk and Currency Transactions (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

The value of foreign assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations. Currency exchange rates can also be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. Foreign currency exchange transactions may be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into derivative currency transactions. Currency futures contracts are exchange-traded and change in value to reflect movements of a currency or a basket of currencies. Settlement must be made in a designated currency.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. Such contracts may be used when a security denominated in a foreign currency is purchased or sold, or when the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security is anticipated. A forward contract can then “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. Additionally, when the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the securities held that are denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge against long-term currency changes. Cross-hedging may be used by using forward contracts in one currency (or basket of currencies) to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency. Use of a different foreign currency magnifies exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Forward contracts may also be used to shift exposure to foreign currency exchange rate changes from one currency to another. Short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the dollar value of only a portion of portfolio assets.

Currency transactions are subject to the risk of a number of complex political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying the derivative currency transactions. As a result, available information may not be complete. In an over-the-counter trading environment, there are no daily price fluctuation limits. There may be no liquid secondary market to close out options purchased or written, or forward contracts entered into, until their exercise, expiration or maturity. There is also the risk of default by, or the bankruptcy of, the financial institution serving as a counterparty.

Currency swaps involve the exchange of rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies and are individually negotiated. The entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. A Fund’s performance may be adversely affected as the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may be incorrect in its forecasts of market value and currency exchange rates.

Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options (all Funds)

As described below, a Fund may purchase and sell in the U.S. or abroad futures contracts, put and call options, forward contracts, swaps and options on securities, futures, broadly-based stock indices and currencies. In the future, a Fund may employ instruments and strategies that are not presently contemplated, but which may be subsequently developed, to the extent such investment methods are consistent with such Fund’s investment objectives, and are legally permissible. There can be no assurance that an instrument, if employed, will be successful.

A Fund may buy and sell these investments for a number of purposes, including hedging, investment or speculative purposes. For example, it may do so to try to manage its exposure to the possibility that the prices of its portfolio securities may decline, or to establish a position in the securities market as a temporary substitute for purchasing individual securities. Some of these strategies, such as selling futures, buying puts and writing covered calls, may be used to hedge a Fund’s portfolio against price fluctuations. Other hedging strategies, such as buying futures and call options, tend to increase a Fund’s exposure to the securities market.

Special Risk Factors Regarding Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options (all Funds)

Transactions in derivative instruments (e.g., futures, options, forwards, and swaps) involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to: unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, interest rates, indices, the other financial instruments’ prices or currency exchange rates; the inability to close out a position; default by the counterparty; imperfect correlation between a position and the desired hedge; tax constraints on closing out positions; and portfolio management constraints on securities subject to such transactions. The loss on derivative instruments (other than purchased options) may substantially exceed the amount invested in these instruments. In addition, the entire premium paid for purchased options may be lost before they can be profitably exercised. Transaction costs are incurred in opening and closing positions. Derivative instruments may increase or leverage exposure to a particular market risk, thereby increasing price volatility of derivative instruments a Fund holds. A Fund’s success in using derivative instruments to hedge portfolio assets depends on the degree of price correlation between the derivative instruments and the hedged asset. Imperfect correlation may

 

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be caused by several factors, including temporary price disparities among the trading markets for the derivative instrument, the assets underlying the derivative instrument and a Fund’s assets.

OTC derivative instruments involve an increased risk that the issuer or counterparty will fail to perform its contractual obligations. Some derivative instruments are not readily marketable or may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in an exchange-traded derivative instrument, which may make the contract temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or futures option can vary from the previous day’s settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the closing out of positions to limit losses. Certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for written OTC options, may be considered illiquid. The ability to terminate OTC derivative instruments may depend on the cooperation of the counterparties to such contracts. For thinly traded derivative instruments, the only source of price quotations may be the selling dealer or counterparty. In addition, certain provisions of the Code limit the use of derivative instruments. The use of derivatives are highly specialized activities that involve skills different from conducting ordinary portfolio securities transactions. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s use of derivative instruments will be advantageous to a Fund.

Regulatory Matters Regarding Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options (all Funds)

The Trust has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) with respect to the Funds and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. On February 11, 2011, however, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) proposed certain regulatory changes that would subject registered investment companies to regulation by the CFTC if a fund invests in more than a prescribed level of its liquidation value in futures and certain other instruments, or if a fund markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. If these regulatory changes are ultimately adopted by the CFTC, each Fund would likely be subject to the CFTC registration requirements, and the disclosure and operations of each Fund would need to comply with all applicable regulations governing commodity pools. Compliance with these additional registration and regulatory requirements would increase Fund expenses. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser may also be subject to CFTC regulation if a Fund is deemed to be a commodity pool. Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop.

Transactions in futures and options by any of the Funds are subject to limitations established by futures and option exchanges governing the maximum number of futures and options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the futures or options were written or purchased on the same or different exchanges or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more different exchanges or through one or more brokers. Thus the number of futures or options which a Fund may write or hold may be affected by futures or options written or held by other entities, including other investment companies advised by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser (or an adviser that is an affiliate of the Funds’ Adviser and Sub-Adviser). An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.

Forward Contracts (all Funds)

A forward contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific security, currency or other instrument for an agreed price at a future date that is individually negotiated and privately traded by traders and their customers.

Futures Contracts (all Funds)

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

There are several risks in connection with the use of futures by the Funds. One risk arises because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of futures and movements in the price of the instruments which are the subject of the hedge. The price of futures may move more than or less than the price of the instruments being hedged. If the price of futures moves less than the price of the instruments which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective, but, if the price of the instruments being hedged has moved in an unfavorable direction, a Fund would be in a better position than if it had not hedged at all. If the price of the instruments being hedged has moved in a favorable direction, this advantage will be partially offset by the loss on the futures. If the price of the futures moves more than the price of the hedged instruments, the Fund involved will experience either a loss or gain on the futures which will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the instruments which are the subject of the hedge.

To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price of instruments being hedged and movements in the price of futures contracts, a Fund may buy or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of instruments being hedged if the volatility over a particular time period of the prices of such instruments has been greater than the volatility over such time period of the futures, or if otherwise deemed to be appropriate by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser. Conversely, the Funds may buy or sell fewer futures contracts if the volatility over a particular time period of the prices of the instruments being hedged is less than the volatility over such time period of the futures contract being used, or if otherwise deemed to be appropriate by the Adviser or Sub-

 

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Adviser. It is also possible that, when a Fund sells futures to hedge its portfolio against a decline in the market, the market may advance and the value of the futures instruments held in the Fund may decline.

Where futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the price of securities before a Fund is able to invest its cash (or cash equivalents) in an orderly fashion, it is possible that the market may decline instead; if the Fund then concludes not to invest its cash at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities that were to be purchased.

With respect to futures contracts that are not contractually required to “cash-settle,” a Fund must cover its open positions by designating or segregating on its records cash or liquid assets equal to the contract’s full, notional value. With respect to futures that are contractually required to “cash-settle,” however, a Fund is permitted to designate cash or liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligation, if any (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) rather than the notional value. By designating assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled forwards or futures the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts.

In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect correlation, or no correlation at all, between movements in the price of futures and the price of the instruments being hedged, the price of futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the cash market due to certain market distortions. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, with respect to financial futures contracts, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortions. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortion in the futures market, and because of the imperfect correlation between the movements in the cash market and movements in the price of futures, a correct forecast of general market trends or interest rate movements by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, may still not result in a successful hedging transaction over a short time frame.

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

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

Successful use of futures to hedge portfolio securities protects against adverse market movements but also reduces potential gain. For example, if a particular Fund has hedged against the possibility of a decline in the market adversely affecting securities held by it and securities prices increase instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit to the increased value of its securities which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements. Such sales of securities may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices which reflect the rising market. The Funds may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Stock Index Futures (all Funds)

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

Stock index futures are contracts based on the future value of the basket of securities that comprise the underlying stock index. The contracts obligate the seller to deliver and the purchaser to take cash to settle the futures transaction or to enter into an obligation contract. No physical delivery of the securities underlying the index is made on settling the futures obligation. No monetary amount is

 

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paid or received by a Fund on the purchase or sale of a stock index future. At any time prior to the expiration of the future, a Fund may elect to close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final determination of variation margin (as described below) is made and additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund. Any gain or loss is then realized by the Fund on the future for tax purposes. Although stock index futures by their terms call for settlement by the delivery of cash, in most cases the settlement obligation is fulfilled without such delivery by entering into an offsetting transaction. All futures transactions are effected through a clearing house associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded.

Futures Contracts on Securities (all Funds)

The Funds may purchase and sell futures contracts on securities. A futures contract sale creates an obligation by a Fund, as seller, to deliver the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price. A futures contract purchase creates an obligation by the Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of the specific type of financial instrument at a specific future time at a specific price. The specific securities delivered or taken, respectively, at settlement date, would not be determined until or near that date. The determination would be in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase was made.

Although futures contracts on securities by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of securities, in most cases the contracts are closed out before the settlement date without making or taking delivery of securities. A Fund may close out a futures contract sale by entering into a futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument and the same delivery date. If the price of the sale exceeds the price of the offsetting purchase, the Fund is immediately paid the difference and thus realizes a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the Fund pays the difference and realizes a loss. Similarly, a Fund may close out of a futures contract purchase by entering into a futures contract sale. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain, and if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the Fund realizes a loss. Accounting for futures contracts will be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Swap Agreements (all Funds)

A Fund may enter into interest rate, total return, equity and other swap agreements. Swap agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund’s exposure to long- or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names.

Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange.

Most swap agreements entered into by a Fund would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreements on a “net” basis. Consequently, a Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). A Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of liquid assets in accordance with SEC staff positions on the subject.

Forms of swap agreements also include cap, floor and collar agreements. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.

Swap agreements will tend to shift a Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if a Fund agreed to pay fixed rates in exchange for floating rates while holding fixed-rate bonds, the swap would tend to decrease the Fund’s exposure to long-term interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund’s investments and its share price and yield. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from a Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by a Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due.

 

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A Fund’s use of swap agreements may not be successful in furthering its investment objective, as the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, may not accurately predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. If such instruments are determined to be illiquid, then a Fund will limit its investment in these instruments subject to its limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Moreover, a Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. Certain restrictions imposed on the Funds by the Code may limit each of the Funds’ ability to use swap agreements. A Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. The swaps market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Credit Default Swap Agreement (“CDS”) and Credit Default Index Swap Agreement Risk (“CDX”) (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

The Funds intend to enter into credit default swap agreements, credit default index swap agreements and similar agreements as a protection “seller” in order to gain exposure to the credit risk of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed income securities and sovereign debt, as well as mortgage-backed securities. Each Fund may also be a “buyer” of credit protection. The credit default swap agreement or similar instruments may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap agreement is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement, provided generally that no credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. In addition, at the inception of the agreement, the protection “buyer” may receive or be obligated to pay an additional up-front amount depending on the current market value of the contract. If a credit event occurs, an auction process is used to determine the “recovery value” of the contract. The seller then must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund’s net cash flows over the life of the contract will be the initial up-front amount paid or received minus the sum of the periodic payments made over the life of the contract. However, if a credit event occurs, the Fund may elect to receive a cash amount equal to the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. In addition, at the inception of the agreement, the Fund may receive or be obligated to pay an additional up-front amount depending on the current market value of the contract. If a credit event occurs, the Fund will be generally obligated to pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap contract minus the “recovery value” as determined by the auction process. Credit default swaps could result in losses if the Adviser does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the underlying instrument on which the credit default swap is based. Additionally, if the Fund is a seller of a credit default swap and a credit event occurs, the Fund could suffer significant losses.

Equity Swaps (All Funds)

An equity swap is a two-party contract that generally obligates one party to pay the positive return and the other party to pay the negative return on a specified reference security, basket of securities, security index or index component (“asset”) during the period of the swap. The payments based on the reference asset may be adjusted for transaction costs, interest payments, the amount of dividends paid on the referenced asset or other economic factors.

Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, when a Fund takes a long position, the counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would have increased in value had it been invested in a particular stock (or group of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on the stock. In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty interest on the notional amount of the equity swap plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stock.

Therefore, in this case the return to the Fund on the equity swap should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stock less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount. In other cases, when the Fund takes a short position, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would have decreased in value had the Fund sold a particular stock (or group of stocks) short, less the dividend expense that the Fund would have paid on the stock, as adjusted for interest payments or other economic factors. In these situations, the Fund may be obligated to pay the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap would have increased in value had it been invested in such stock.

Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Inasmuch as these transactions are offset by segregated cash or liquid assets to cover each of the Funds’ current obligations (or are otherwise covered as permitted by applicable law), the Funds and the Adviser and Sub-Adviser believe that these transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act.

 

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Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile. To the extent that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, does not accurately analyze and predict future market trends, the values of assets or economic factors, a Fund may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The swap markets in which many types of swap transactions are traded have grown substantially in recent years, with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents. As a result, the markets for certain types of swaps have become relatively liquid.

Total Return and Interest Rate Swaps (all Funds)

In a total return swap, the buyer receives a periodic return equal to the total return of a specified security, securities or index, for a specified period of time. In return, the buyer pays the counterparty a variable stream of payments, typically based upon short term interest rates, possibly plus or minus an agreed upon spread.

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met. Like a traditional investment in a debt security, a Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

Interest rate and total return swaps entered into in which payments are not netted may entail greater risk than a swap entered into a net basis. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Writing Call Options (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

A Fund may write covered calls. When a Fund writes a call on an investment, it receives a premium and agrees to sell the callable investment to a purchaser of a corresponding call during the call period (usually not more than nine months) at a fixed exercise price (which may differ from the market price of the underlying investment) regardless of market price changes during the call period. The call may be exercised at any time during the call period. To terminate its obligation on a call it has written, a Fund may purchase a corresponding call in a “closing purchase transaction.” A profit or loss will be realized, depending upon whether the net of the amount of option transaction costs and the premium received on the call a Fund has written is more or less than the price of the call such Fund subsequently purchased. A profit may also be realized if the call lapses unexercised because the Fund retains the underlying investment and the premium received. If a Fund could not effect a closing purchase transaction due to the lack of a market, it would have to hold the callable investment until the call lapsed or was exercised.

A Fund may also write an uncovered call (i.e. the Fund does not hold the underlying security) or calls on futures without owning a futures contract on deliverable securities, provided that at the time the call is written, the Fund covers the call with an equivalent dollar value of deliverable securities or liquid assets. Each Fund will cover with additional liquid assets if the value of the segregated assets drops below 100% of the current market value of the underlying instrument. The seller of an uncovered call option assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The securities necessary to satisfy the exercise of an uncovered call option may be unavailable for purchase, except at much higher prices, thereby reducing or eliminating the value of the premium. Purchasing securities to cover the exercise price of an uncovered call option can cause the price of the securities to increase, thereby exacerbating the loss. In no circumstances would an exercise notice as to a future put a Fund in a short futures position.

Writing Put Options (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

A put option on a security gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying investment at the exercise price during the option period. The put may be exercised at any time during the option period. The premium a Fund receives from writing a put option represents a profit, as long as the price of the underlying investment remains above the exercise price. However, the Fund has also assumed the obligation during the option period to buy the underlying investment from the buyer of the put at the exercise price, even though the value of the investment may fall below the exercise price. If the put expires unexercised, the Fund (as the writer of the put) realizes a gain in the amount of the premium less transaction costs. If the put is exercised, the Fund must fulfill its obligation to purchase the underlying investment at the exercise price, which will usually exceed the market value of the investment at that time. In that case, the Fund may incur a loss, equal to the sum of the sale price of the underlying investment and the premium received minus the sum of the exercise price and any transaction costs incurred.

When writing put options on securities, to secure its obligation to pay for the underlying security, a Fund will cover with liquid assets with a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the underlying securities. A Fund therefore may have to forego certain

 

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opportunities to invest the assets used to cover the obligation. As long as the obligation of the Fund as the put writer continues, it may be assigned an exercise notice by the exchange or broker-dealer through whom such option was sold, requiring the Fund to exchange currency at the specified rate of exchange (in the context of puts on currencies) or to take delivery of the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. A Fund may have no control over when it may be required to purchase the underlying security, since it may be assigned an exercise notice at any time prior to the termination of its obligation as the writer of the put. This obligation terminates upon expiration of the put, or such earlier time at which the Fund effects a closing purchase transaction by purchasing a put of the same series as that previously sold. Once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, it is thereafter not allowed to effect a closing purchase transaction.

A Fund may effect a closing purchase transaction to realize a profit on an outstanding put option it has written or to prevent an underlying security from being put. Furthermore, effecting such a closing purchase transaction will permit the Fund to write another put option to the extent that the exercise price thereof is secured by the deposited assets, or to utilize the proceeds from the sale of such assets for other investments by that Fund. The Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from writing the option.

Purchasing Puts and Calls (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

A Fund may purchase calls to protect against the possibility that the Fund’s portfolio will not participate in an anticipated rise in the securities market. When a Fund purchases a call (other than in a closing purchase transaction), it pays a premium and, except as to calls on stock indices, has the right to buy the underlying investment from a seller of a corresponding call on the same investment during the call period at a fixed exercise price. In purchasing a call, a Fund benefits only if the call is sold at a profit or if, during the call period, the market price of the underlying investment is above the sum of the exercise price, transaction costs, and the premium paid, and the call is exercised. If the call is not exercised or sold (whether or not at a profit), it will become worthless at its expiration date and the Fund will lose its premium payment and the right to purchase the underlying investment. When a Fund purchases a call on a stock index, it pays a premium, but settlement is in cash rather than by delivery of the underlying investment to the Fund.

When a Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium and, except as to puts on stock indices, has the right to sell the underlying investment to a seller of a corresponding put on the same investment during the put period at a fixed exercise price. Buying a put on an investment a Fund owns (a “protective put”) enables that Fund to attempt to protect itself during the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying investment at the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the market price of the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise price and, as a result, the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become worthless at its expiration and the Fund will lose the premium payment and the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the put may be sold prior to expiration (whether or not at a profit).

Puts and calls on broadly-based stock indices or stock index futures are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question (and thus on price movements in the stock market generally) rather than on price movements of individual securities or futures contracts. When a Fund buys a call on a stock index or stock index future, it pays a premium. If a Fund exercises the call during the call period, a seller of a corresponding call on the same investment will pay the Fund an amount of cash to settle the call if the closing level of the stock index or stock index future upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. That cash payment is equal to the difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (the “multiplier”) which determines the total dollar value for each point of difference. When a Fund buys a put on a stock index or stock index future, it pays a premium and has the right during the put period to require a seller of a corresponding put, upon the Fund’s exercise of its put, to deliver cash to the Fund to settle the put if the closing level of the stock index or stock index future upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put. That cash payment is determined by the multiplier, in the same manner as described above as to calls.

When a Fund purchases a put on a stock index, or on a stock index future not owned by it, the put protects the Fund to the extent that the index moves in a similar pattern to the securities the Fund holds. The Fund can either resell the put or, in the case of a put on a stock index future, buy the underlying investment and sell it at the exercise price. The resale price of the put will vary inversely with the price of the underlying investment. If the market price of the underlying investment is above the exercise price, and as a result the put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on the expiration date. In the event of a decline in price of the underlying investment, the Fund could exercise or sell the put at a profit to attempt to offset some or all of its loss on its portfolio securities.

Options on Futures Contracts (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

Investments in options on futures contracts involve some of the same considerations that are involved in connection with investments in future contracts (for example, the existence of a liquid secondary market). In addition, the purchase or sale of an option also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract will not correspond to changes in the value of the option purchased. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the futures contract upon which it is based, or upon the price of the securities being hedged, an option may or may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or such securities. In general, the market prices of options can be expected to be more volatile than the market prices on underlying futures contract.

 

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Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, however, the purchase of call or put options on futures contracts may frequently involve less potential risk to the Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus transaction costs).

Privately Negotiated Options (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

A Fund may also invest in privately negotiated option contracts (each a “Private Option”). Generally, an option buyer negotiates with a bank or investment bank to buy a Private Option with contract terms that are more flexible than standardized exchange traded options. Under a Private Option contract, the buyer generally controls the length of the contract, the notional amount, and the asset or basket of securities comprising the reference portfolio that determines the value of the Private Option.

Private Options will generally have a term ranging from 12 to 60 months. A Fund may buy Private Options that will be based on an asset or a basket of securities (the “Basket”) selected by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser in accord with a Fund’s investment objective and approved by the counterparty (the “Counterparty”). The Basket may be comprised of securities that include common and preferred stock, government and private issuer debt (including convertible and non-convertible debt), options and futures contracts, limited partnership interests (including so-called “hedge funds”) and shares of registered investment companies. During the term of a Private Option, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser expects to have a limited right to modify the notional amount of the Private Option and the assets that comprise the Basket.

As with more traditional options, a Private Option will allow for the use of economic leverage without incurring risk beyond the amount of premium and related fees (the “Premium”) paid for the Private Option. The Private Option will be structured so that it allows a Fund to benefit from an increase in the value of the Basket without owning the assets that comprise the Basket. Upon a decline in the value of the Basket, a Fund may lose all or a portion of the premium paid for the Private Option. A Fund’s gain or loss may be magnified by writing the Private Option with reference to a much larger notional amount of the Basket than the Premium being paid by the Fund.

Upon the termination or expiration of a Private Option, a Fund will be entitled to receive from the Counterparty a cash payment (the “Settlement Price”), which is based on the change in value of the Basket serving as a benchmark for that Private Option. In no event will a Fund have the right to acquire the assets that comprise the Basket. The Settlement Price may reflect deductions for fees and an interest-equivalent amount payable to the Counterparty for establishing the Private Option. The Settlement Price will typically be payable to a Fund within a specified number of business days after termination or expiration of the Private Option. Any Private Option that does not require payment of the Settlement Price within seven calendar days after termination or expiration or that cannot be terminated by a Fund at any time will be treated as an illiquid asset.

The Counterparty will generally have the right to terminate a Private Option at any time prior to maturity. If the Basket does not sufficiently increase in value prior to termination or expiration, a Fund may still suffer losses even though the Basket increased in value because of fees and interest-equivalent amounts payable to the Counterparty or because the increase in value of the Basket has been insufficient to trigger a position settlement value.

The Counterparty to each Private Option will be a bank, financial institution, or an entity that is affiliated with either a bank or a financial institution with significant experience in the field of alternative investments. Each Counterparty will be one determined by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to be creditworthy and approved by the Funds’ Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors. Neither the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, nor the Funds will have any control over any hedging or similar techniques used by the Counterparty to attempt to ensure the Counterparty’s ability to perform under each Private Option. Likewise, neither the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, nor the Funds will have any claim on securities or other property, if any, which may be purchased by the Counterparty in connection with the Private Option. Should the Counterparty be unable to perform its obligations under a Private Option, then the Company could lose all or a portion of the Premium and the gain, if any, relating to such Private Option.

Additional Information Regarding Options (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

The Funds’ Custodian or a securities depository acting for the Custodian, will act as the Funds’ escrow agent, through the facilities of Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), as to the investments on which the Funds have written options traded on exchanges or as to other acceptable escrow securities, so that no margin will be required for such transactions. OCC will release the securities on the expiration of the option or upon the Funds’ entering into a closing transaction. An option position may be closed out only on a market, which provides secondary trading for options of the same series, and there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option.

When a Fund writes an over-the-counter (“OTC”) option, it will enter into an arrangement with a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, which would establish a formula price at which such Fund would have the absolute right to purchase that OTC option.

A Fund’s option activities may affect its turnover rate and brokerage commissions. The exercise by a Fund of puts on securities will cause the sale of related investments, increasing portfolio turnover. Although such exercise is within a Fund’s control, holding a put

 

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might cause a Fund to sell the related investments for reasons which would not exist in the absence of the put. Each Fund will pay a brokerage commission each time it buys a put or call, sells a call, or buys or sells an underlying investment in connection with the exercise of a put or call. Such commissions may be higher than those which would apply to direct purchases or sales of such underlying investments. Premiums paid for options are small in relation to the market value of the related investments, and consequently, put and call options offer large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by trading options could result in a Fund’s net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the underlying investments.

Hybrid Instruments (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

A hybrid instrument can combine the characteristics of securities, futures, and options. For example, the principal amount or interest rate of a hybrid instrument could be tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some currency or securities index or another interest rate (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark.

Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment strategies, including currency hedging, duration management, and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes a Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of a Fund.

Combined Transactions (all Funds)

A Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions including forward currency contracts and multiple interest rate transactions, and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component transactions”), instead of a single transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, it is in the best interests of a Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Adviser or Sub-Adviser’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.

Hedging Transactions (all Funds)

The Adviser and Sub-Adviser, from time to time, employ various hedging techniques.

The success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will be subject to the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund’s hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner.

Hedging against a decline in the value of a portfolio position does not eliminate fluctuations in the values of those portfolio positions or prevent losses if the values of those positions decline. Rather, it establishes other positions designed to gain from those same declines, thus seeking to moderate the decline in the portfolio position’s value. Such hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of the portfolio position should increase. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser may determine, in its sole discretion, not to hedge against certain risks and certain risks may exist that cannot be hedged. Furthermore, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may not anticipate a particular risk so as to hedge against it effectively. Hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of a hedged portfolio position should increase.

 

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Illiquid Securities (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund and AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund)

As a non-fundamental investment policy, a Fund may not purchase a security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities. If, after the time of acquisition, events cause this limit to be exceeded, the Fund will take steps to reduce the aggregate amount of illiquid securities as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

Over-the-counter options, repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to payment of principal in seven days, and certain “restricted securities” may be illiquid. A security is restricted if it is subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public. A liquid institutional market has developed, however, for certain restricted securities such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities and corporate bonds and notes. Thus, restrictions on resale do not necessarily indicate a lack of liquidity for the security. For example, if a restricted security may be sold to certain institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or another exemption from registration under such Act, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may determine that the security is liquid under guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. These guidelines take into account trading activity in the securities and the availability of reliable pricing information, among other factors. With other restricted securities, however, there can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist for the security at any particular time. A Fund might not be able to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions. The Fund treats such holdings as illiquid.

To enable the Funds to sell restricted securities not registered under the 1933 Act, the Funds may have to cause those securities to be registered. The expenses of registration of restricted securities may be negotiated by a Fund with the issuer at the time such securities are purchased by such Fund, if such registration is required before such securities may be sold publicly. Securities having contractual restrictions on their resale might limit a Fund’s ability to dispose of such securities and might lower the amount realizable upon the sale of such securities.

In addition to the above, market conditions may cause the Fund to experience temporary mark-to-market losses, especially in less liquid positions, even in the absence of any selling of investments by the Fund.

IPOs and SEOs (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

“IPOs” or “New Issues” are initial public offerings of U.S. equity securities. “SEOs” are seasoned (i.e., secondary) equity offerings of U.S. equity securities. Investments in companies that have recently gone public have the potential to produce substantial gains for the Fund. However, there is no assurance that the Fund will have access to profitable IPOs or SEOs and therefore investors should not rely on any past gains from them as an indication of future performance. Securities issued in IPOs are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs or SEOs may be highly volatile or may decline shortly after the initial public offering or seasoned equity offering. When an initial public offering or seasoned equity offering is brought to the market, availability may be limited and the Fund may not be able to buy any shares at the offering price, or, if it is able to buy shares, it may not be able to buy as many shares at the offering price as it would like.

Loans of Portfolio Securities (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund, AQR International Momentum Fund)

To attempt to increase its income or total return, a Fund may lend its portfolio securities to certain types of eligible borrowers. Each loan will be secured continuously by collateral in the form of cash, high quality money market instruments or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Collateral will be received and maintained by the Fund’s custodian concurrent with delivery of the loaned securities and kept in a segregated account or designated on the records of the custodian for the benefit of the Fund. Initial collateral will have a market value at least equal to 105% of the then-current market value of loaned equity securities not denominated in U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars or not primarily traded on a U.S. exchange, or 102% of the then-current market value of any other loaned securities. For all loaned foreign equity securities, the borrower must increase the collateral on a daily basis if the then-current market value of the collateral becomes insufficient to meet the minimum required collateral level for the type of loaned security as specified above. For all other loaned securities, the borrower must increase the collateral only when the market value of the collateral is less than 100% of the then-current market value of the loaned securities. The borrower pays to the lending Fund an amount equal to any dividends or interest received on loaned securities. The Fund retains all or a portion of the interest received on investment of cash collateral and/or receives a fee from the borrower; however, the lending Fund will generally pay certain administrative and custodial fees in connection with each loan.

The Fund has a right to call a loan at any time and require the borrower to redeliver the borrowed securities to the Fund within the settlement time specified in the loan agreement or be subject to a “buy in”. The Fund will generally not have the right to vote

 

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securities while they are being loaned, but it is expected that the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, will call a loan in anticipation of any important vote.

The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of the possibility of loss to the Fund due to (i) the inability of the borrower to return the securities, (ii) a delay in receiving additional collateral to adequately cover any fluctuations in the value of securities on loan, (iii) a delay in recovery of the securities, or (iv) the loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In addition, the Fund is responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrower’s collateral.

Securities lending will be conducted by a securities lending agent approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The securities lending agent maintains a list of broker-dealers, banks or other institutions that it has determined to be creditworthy. The Fund will only enter into loan arrangements with borrowers on the approved list.

Margin Deposits and Cover Requirements for Futures Contracts (all Funds)

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

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

Momentum Style Risk (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

Investing in securities with positive Momentum entails investing in securities that have had above-average recent returns. These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities. In addition, there may be periods when the Momentum style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of a Fund using a Momentum strategy may suffer.

PIPEs (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

The Fund may make private investments in public companies whose stocks are quoted on stock exchanges or which trade in the over-the-counter securities market, a type of investment commonly referred to as a “PIPE” transaction. PIPE transactions will generally result in the Fund acquiring either restricted stock or an instrument convertible into restricted stock. As with investments in other types of restricted securities, such an investment may be illiquid. The Fund’s ability to dispose of securities acquired in PIPE transactions may depend upon the registration of such securities for resale. Any number of factors may prevent or delay a proposed registration. Alternatively, it may be possible for securities acquired in a PIPE transaction to be resold in transactions exempt from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or otherwise under the federal securities laws. There is no guarantee, however, that an active trading market for the securities will exist at the time of disposition of the securities, and the lack of such a market could hurt the market value of the Fund’s investments. As a result, even if the Fund is able to have securities acquired in a PIPE transaction registered or sell such securities through an exempt transaction, the Fund may not be able to sell all the securities on short notice, and the sale of the securities could lower the market price of the securities.

 

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ReFlow Liquidity Program (all Funds other than AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

Each Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business day to purchase fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business day. Following purchases of fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow (currently 28 days) or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. While ReFlow holds fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. For use of the ReFlow service, a fund pays a fee to ReFlow each time it purchases fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. Such fee is allocated among a fund’s share classes based on relative net assets. ReFlow’s purchases of fund shares through the liquidity program are made on an investment-blind basis without regard to the fund’s objective, policies or anticipated performance. ReFlow will purchase shares at net asset value and will not be subject to any sales charge, investment minimum or redemption fee applicable to such shares. Investments in a fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are not subject to the round trip limitation described in the prospectus. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of a fund. The Adviser believes that the program assists in stabilizing a Fund’s net assets to the benefit of the Fund and its shareholders. To the extent a Fund’s net assets do not decline, the investment adviser may also benefit.

Repurchase Agreements (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

A Fund may acquire securities subject to repurchase agreements. In a repurchase transaction, a Fund acquires a security from, and simultaneously agrees to resell it to, an approved vendor. An “approved vendor” is a U.S. commercial bank or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank or a broker-dealer that has been designated a primary dealer in government securities that meets the Trust’s credit requirements. The resale price exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period during which the repurchase agreement is in effect. If the vendor fails to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability to do so. The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and delivery pursuant to the resale typically will occur within one to five days of the purchase. Repurchase agreements are considered “loans” under the 1940 Act, collateralized by the underlying security. There is no limit on the amount of a Fund’s net assets that may be subject to repurchase agreements of seven days or less. Repurchase agreements with a maturity beyond seven days are subject to a Fund’s limitations on investments in illiquid securities.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund)

A Fund, subject to its investment strategies and policies, may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. A Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with the same parties with whom it may enter into repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells securities to another party and agrees to repurchase them at a particular date and price. A Fund may enter into a reverse repurchase agreement when it is anticipated that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction is greater than the interest expense of the transaction.

At the time a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will segregate liquid assets with a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest). The use of reverse repurchase agreements may be regarded as leveraging and, therefore, speculative. Furthermore, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risks that (i) the interest income earned in the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense, (ii) the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by a Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase, (iii) the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is required to repurchase them and (iv) the securities will not be returned to the Fund.

In addition, if the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce a Fund’s obligations to repurchase the securities and the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision.

Rights and Warrants (AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund, AQR International Momentum Fund)

Warrants essentially are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities. Investments in warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for the resale of the warrants, potential price fluctuations as a result of speculation or other factors, and

 

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failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the warrant can be prudently exercised (in which case the warrant may expire without being exercised, resulting in the loss of a Fund’s entire investment therein).

Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.

Securities of Other Investment Companies (all Funds)

A Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, including ETFs, money market mutual funds, and closed-end investment companies, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. To the extent a Fund invests in shares of an investment company, it will bear its pro rata share of the other investment company’s expenses, such as investment advisory and distribution fees and operating expenses.

Short Sales (all Funds)

A Fund may engage in short sales, including short sales against the box. Short sales (other than against the box) are transactions in which a Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. A short sale against the box is a short sale where at the time of the sale, the Fund owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amounts. To complete a short sale transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any interest or dividends which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. There will also be other costs associated with short sales.

The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Unlike taking a long position in a security by purchasing the security, where potential losses are limited to the purchase price, short sales have no cap on maximum loss. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security.

Until the Fund replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the Fund will (a) designate on its records as collateral cash or liquid assets at such a level that the designated assets plus any amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with applicable law. The amount designated on the Fund’s records will be marked to market daily and at no time will the sum of the amount so designated and the amount deposited with the broker as collateral be less than the market value of the securities at the time they were sold short. This may limit the Fund’s investment flexibility, as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

There is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to close out a short position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. During the time that the Fund is short a security, it is subject to the risk that the lender of the security will terminate the loan at a time when the Fund is unable to borrow the same security from another lender. If that occurs, the Fund may be “bought in” at the price required to purchase the security needed to close out the short position, which may be a disadvantageous price. Thus, there is a risk that a Fund may be unable to fully implement its investment strategy due to a lack of available stocks or for some other reason. It is possible that the market value of the securities a Fund holds in long positions will decline at the same time that the market value of the securities a Fund has sold short increases, thereby increasing a Fund potential volatility. Short sales also involve other costs. The Fund must normally repay to the lender an amount equal to any dividends or interest that accrues while the loan is outstanding. In addition, to borrow the security, the Fund may be required to pay a premium. The Fund also will incur transaction costs in effecting short sales. The amount of any ultimate gain for the Fund resulting from a short sale will be decreased, and the amount of any ultimate loss will be increased, by the amount of premiums, dividends, interest or expenses the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale.

In addition to the short sales discussed above, the Fund may make short sales “against the box,” a transaction in which the Fund enters into a short sale of a security that the Fund owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost. The Fund does not immediately deliver the securities sold and is said to have a short position in those securities until delivery occurs. If the Fund effects a short sale of securities against the box at a time when it has an unrealized gain on the securities, it may be required to recognize that gain as if it had actually sold the securities (as a “constructive sale”) on the date it effects the short sale. However, such constructive sale treatment may not apply if the Fund closes out the short sale with securities other than the appreciated securities held at the time of the short sale and if certain other conditions are satisfied.

SPACs (AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund)

The Fund may invest in stock, warrants, and other securities of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or similar special purpose entities that pool funds to seek potential acquisition opportunities. Unless and until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets (less a portion retained to cover expenses) in U.S. Government securities, money market fund securities and

 

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cash; if an acquisition that meets the requirements for the SPAC is not completed within a pre-established period of time, the invested funds are returned to the entity’s shareholders. Because SPACs and similar entities are in essence blank check companies without an operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the over-the-counter market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.

Structured Notes (AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, AQR Risk Parity Fund and AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund)

Structured Notes are derivative debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. A structured note may be positively, negatively or both positively and negatively indexed; that is, its value or interest rate may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument increases. Similarly, its value may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument decreases. Further, the change in the principal amount payable with respect to, or the interest rate of, a structured note may be a multiple of the percentage change (positive or negative) in the value of the underlying reference instrument(s). Structured or indexed securities may also be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities.

U.S. Government Securities (all Funds)

U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities (including certain types of mortgage-backed securities) may or may not be guaranteed or supported by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. Some are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agencies’ obligations; while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. If the securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the owner of the securities must look principally to the agency issuing the obligation for repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States in the event that the agency of instrumentality does not meet its commitment.

Risks Related to the Adviser and to its Quantitative and Statistical Approach (all Funds)

Trading Judgment

The success of the proprietary valuation techniques and trading strategies employed by the Funds is subject to the judgment and skills of the Adviser and the research team that it oversees. Additionally, the trading abilities of the portfolio management team with regard to execution and discipline are important to the return of the Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment decisions or actions of the Adviser will be correct. Incorrect decisions or poor judgment may result in substantial losses.

Model and Data Risk

Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of each Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the Adviser, and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments, , to provide risk management insights, and to assist in hedging a Fund’s investments.

When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. For example, by relying on Models and Data, the Adviser may be induced to buy certain investments at prices that are too high, to sell certain other investments at prices that are too low, or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful.

Some of the models used by the Adviser for one or more Funds are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. For example, such models may incorrectly forecast future behavior, leading to potential losses on a cash flow and/or a mark-to-market basis. In addition, in unforeseen or certain low-probability scenarios (often involving a market disruption of some kind), such models may produce unexpected results, which can result in losses for a Fund. Furthermore, because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.

All models rely on correct market data inputs. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded model, the resulting information will be incorrect. However, even if market data is input correctly, “model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics, such as derivative securities.

 

20


Obsolescence Risk

A Fund is unlikely to be successful unless the assumptions underlying the models are realistic and either remain realistic and relevant in the future or are adjusted to account for changes in the overall market environment. If such assumptions are inaccurate or become inaccurate and are not promptly adjusted, it is likely that profitable trading signals will not be generated. If and to the extent that the models do not reflect certain factors, and the Adviser does not successfully address such omission through its testing and evaluation and modify the models accordingly, major losses may result. The Adviser will continue to test, evaluate and add new models, as a result of which the existing models may be modified from time to time. Any modification of the models or strategies will not be subject to any requirement that shareholders receive notice of the change or that they consent to it. There can be no assurance as to the effects (positive or negative) of any modification of the models or strategies on a Fund’s performance.

Crowding/Convergence

There is significant competition among quantitatively-focused managers, and the ability of the Adviser to deliver returns consistent with a Fund’s objectives and policies is dependent on its ability to employ models that are simultaneously profitable and differentiated from those employed by other managers. To the extent that the Adviser’s models used for a Fund come to resemble those employed by other managers, the risk that a market disruption that negatively affects predictive models will adversely affect the Fund is increased, and such a disruption could accelerate reductions in liquidity or rapid repricing due to simultaneous trading across a number of funds in the marketplace.

Risk of Programming and Modeling Errors

The research and modeling process engaged in by the Adviser is extremely complex and involves financial, economic, econometric and statistical theories, research and modeling; the results of that process must then be translated into computer code. Although the Adviser seeks to hire individuals skilled in each of these functions and to provide appropriate levels of oversight, the complexity of the individual tasks, the difficulty of integrating such tasks, and the limited ability to perform “real world” testing of the end product raises the chances that the finished model may contain an error; one or more of such errors could adversely affect a Fund’s performance and, depending on the circumstances, would generally not constitute a trade error under the Trust’s policies.

Involuntary Disclosure Risk

As described above under (“—Models and Risks” and “—Crowding/Convergence Risk”), the ability of the Adviser to achieve its investment goals for a Fund is dependent in large part on its ability to develop and protect its models and proprietary research. The models and proprietary research and the Models and Data are largely protected by the Adviser through the use of policies, procedures, agreements, and similar measures designed to create and enforce robust confidentiality, non-disclosure, and similar safeguards. However, public disclosure obligations (or disclosure obligations to exchanges or regulators with insufficient privacy safeguards) could lead to opportunities for competitors to reverse-engineer the Adviser’s Models and Data, and thereby impair the relative or absolute performance of a Fund.

Proprietary Trading Methods

Because the trading methods employed by the Adviser on behalf of each Fund are proprietary to the Adviser, a shareholder will not be able to determine any details of such methods or whether they are being followed.

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

The Funds’ policies set forth below are fundamental policies of each Fund; i.e., they may not be changed with respect to a Fund without shareholder approval. Shareholder approval means approval by the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or (2) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy. Except for those investment policies of a Fund specifically identified as fundamental in the Prospectus and this SAI, the Funds’ investment objectives as described in the Prospectus, and all other investment policies and practices described in the Prospectus and this SAI may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders.

Unless otherwise indicated, all of the percentage limitations below, and in the investment restrictions recited in the Prospectus, apply to each Fund on an individual basis, and apply only at the time a transaction is entered into.

 

21


EACH FUND

 

1. Other than the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, the AQR Risk Parity Fund and the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, shall be a “diversified company” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

2. May borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

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

For the purposes of this policy, each Fund may use the industry classifications provided by Bloomberg, L.P., the Morgan Stanley Capital International/Standard & Poor’s Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”) or any other reasonable industry classification system. Wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents. Utilities will be divided according to their services, for example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry.

 

4. May not purchase or sell real estate or any interest therein, other than as may be acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments and provided that the Fund shall not be prevented from investing in securities backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business.

 

5. May not purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

6. May make loans to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as such may be interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

7. May not act as an underwriter of securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act, except as permitted under the 1933 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. Among other things, to the extent that a Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act, this would permit a Fund to act as an underwriter of securities in connection with the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities in the ordinary course of pursuing its investment objective, investment policies and investment program.

 

8. May not issue any senior security, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. Among other things, this would permit a Fund to: (a) enter into commitments to purchase securities in accordance with a Fund’s investment program, including, without limitation, reverse repurchase agreements, delayed delivery securities and when-issued securities, to the extent permitted by its investment program and other restrictions; (b) engage in short sales of securities to the extent permitted in its investment program and other restrictions; and (c) purchase or sell derivative instruments to the extent permitted by its investment program and other restrictions.

If a percentage limitation is satisfied at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in such percentage resulting from a change in the value of the Fund’s investments will not constitute a violation of such limitation, except that any borrowing by the Fund that exceeds the fundamental investment limitations stated above must be reduced to meet such limitations within the period required by the 1940 Act (currently three days). In addition, if the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities exceed 15% of net assets because of changes in the value of the Fund’s investments, the Fund will take action to reduce its holdings of illiquid securities within a time frame deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund. Otherwise, the Fund may continue to hold a security even though it causes the Fund to exceed a percentage limitation because of fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s assets.

NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES RELATED TO FUND NAMES

Certain Funds have names that suggest that the Fund will focus on a type of investment, within the meaning of Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act. The Trust has adopted a non-fundamental policy for each Fund with such a name to invest under normal market conditions at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in investments of the type suggested by the Fund’s name, in each case as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus.

With respect to each of these Funds, the Trust has adopted a policy to provide the Fund’s shareholders with at least 60 days prior notice of any change in the policy of a Fund to invest at least 80% of its assets in the manner described above.

 

22


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

The overall management of the business and affairs of the Funds is vested with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of four individuals (each, a “Trustee”), three of whom are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act (the “Disinterested Trustees”). The Trustees are responsible for the oversight of the operations of the Trust and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees approves all significant agreements between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including the Trust’s agreements with its investment advisers, investment sub-advisers, administrator, custodian and transfer agent. The management of each Fund’s day-to-day operations is delegated to its officers, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser (in the case of AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and with respect to certain sub-strategies of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund) and the Funds’ administrator, subject always to the investment objectives and policies of each of the Funds and to general supervision of the Board of Trustees. The Disinterested Trustees have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties.

Listed in the chart below is basic information regarding the Trustees and officers of the Trust. The address of each officer and Trustee is 2 Greenwich Plaza, Third Floor, Greenwich CT 06830.

 

Name and Year of Birth

  

Current

Position with

the Trust,

Term of

Office1 and

Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

   Number
of Funds
in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Trustee
    

Other Present

or Past

Directorships

Held by

Trustee (during

the past 5

years)

Disinterested Trustees2

           
Timothy K. Armour, 1948   

Chairman of the Board since 2010 and Trustee,

since 2008

   Interim Chief Executive Officer of Janus Capital Group (2009 to 2010); Managing Director, Morningstar Inc. (2000 to 2008).      14       Janus Capital Group (since 2008); ETF Securities (since 2008); AARP Services, Inc. (since 2010)
Steven Grenadier, 1964   

Trustee,

since 2008

   Professor of Finance, Stanford University (since 1992).      14       E*TRADE Funds (1999 to 2009); Nicholas Applegate Institutional Funds (2007-2010)
L. Joe Moravy, 1950   

Trustee,

since 2008

   Managing Director, Finance Scholars Group (since 2010) (consulting firm); Managing Director, LJM Advisory (2008-2010) (consulting firm); Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (2002 to 2008).      14       N/A

Interested Trustee3

           
David Kabiller, 1963   

Trustee,

since 2010

   Founding Principal, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 1998)      14       N/A

Officers

           
Marco Hanig, 1958    Chief Executive Officer, since 2009; President, since 2008    Vice President, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 2008); prior thereto, Principal, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. (1999 to 2007).      N/A       N/A
Abdon Bolivar, 1965    Chief Compliance    Chief Compliance Officer, AQR      

 

23


Name and Year of Birth

  

Current

Position with

the Trust,

Term of

Office1 and

Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

   Number
of Funds
in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Trustee
   Other Present
or Past
Directorships
Held by
Trustee (during
the past 5
years)
   Officer, since 2008    Capital Management, LLC (since 2002)    N/A    N/A
Nir Messafi, 1975    Chief Financial Officer, since 2010; Vice President since 2009; Treasurer from 2009 to 2010    Vice President, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 2003).    N/A    N/A
Aaron Masek, 1974    Vice President and Treasurer, since 2010    Vice President, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); prior thereto Audit Manager, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. (2008 to 2009); prior thereto Senior Vice President, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (1996 to 2008).    N/A    N/A
Bradley Asness, 1969    Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, since 2009    Principal and Chief Legal Officer, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 1998).    N/A    N/A
Brendan R. Kalb, 1975    Executive Vice President, since 2009; Secretary, since 2008    General Counsel, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 2004).    N/A    N/A
Nicole DonVito, 1979    Vice President, since 2009    Vice President, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 2007), prior thereto, Associate, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (2006 to 2007); prior thereto, Associate Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP (2004 to 2006).    N/A    N/A
Michael Kalansky, 1979    Assistant Treasurer    Associate, AQR Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); prior thereto Senior Accountant, KBC Financial Products (2008 to 2009); prior thereto Manager of Accounting, Citi Property Investors (2005 to 2008).    N/A    N/A

 

 

(1) Each Trustee serves until the election and qualification of a successor, or until death, resignation or removal as provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
(2) A Disinterested Trustee is any Trustee that is not an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
(3) An Interested Trustee is a Trustee that is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Mr. Kabiller is an interested person of the Trust because of his position with the Adviser.

Leadership Structure of the Board of Trustees

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Trust and its Funds rests with the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has engaged the Adviser and for the Diversified Arbitrage Fund, has engaged the Sub-Adviser, to manage the Fund on a day-to day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and any other service providers in the operations of the Funds in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-laws, and each Fund’s investment objectives and strategies. The Board is presently composed of four members, three of whom are Disinterested Trustees. The Board currently conducts regular in-person meetings and holds special telephonic meetings, or informal conference calls, to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular Board meetings. The Disinterested Trustees also meet in executive session, at which no trustees who are interested persons of the Funds are

 

24


present. The Disinterested Trustees have engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has appointed Mr. Armour, a Disinterested Trustee, to serve as Chairman of the Board. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with service providers, including the Adviser, officers, attorneys, and other Trustees generally, between meetings. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has established two committees, i.e., Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee (each, a “Committee”) to assist the Board in the oversight and direction of the business and affairs of the Funds, and from to time may establish informal working groups to review and address the policies and practices of the Funds with respect to certain specified matters. The Committee system facilitates the timely and efficient consideration of matters by the Trustees, and facilitates effective oversight of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and of the Funds’ activities and associated risks. The standing Committees currently conduct an annual review of their charters, which includes a review of their responsibilities and operations. The Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board as a whole also conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the Board, including consideration of the effectiveness of the Board’s committee structure. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over the matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among the Committees and the full Board in a manner that enhances efficient and effective oversight.

The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including, among others, investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the Adviser, who carries out the Funds’ investment management and business affairs, and also by the Sub-Adviser with respect to the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, and other service providers in connection with the services they provide to the Funds. Each of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and other service providers have their own, independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. As part of its regular oversight of the Funds, the Board, directly and/or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Funds’ other service providers (including the Funds’ distributor, servicing agent and transfer agent), the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds, and legal counsel to the Funds. The Board recognizes that it may not be possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Funds or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.

Board of Trustees and Committees

Among the attributes common to all Trustees are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, other service providers, legal counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. A Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively may have been attained, as set forth below, through the Trustee’s executive, business, consulting, and/or academic positions; experience from service as a Trustee of the Trust (and/or in other capacities), other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; educational background or professional training; and/or other life experiences.

Timothy K. Armour. Mr. Armour has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2008. In addition, he has more than 25 years of business and executive experience, specifically in the mutual fund industry. Mr. Armour has held senior positions with Morningstar, Inc. and Janus Capital Group. Mr. Armour also has corporate governance experience serving as a director/trustee of other entities, including Janus Capital Group, ETF Securities and AARP Services.

Steven Grenadier. Mr. Grenadier has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2008. In addition, he has more than 18 years of finance, oversight and mutual fund experience as a professor of finance and serving as a director of other mutual fund complexes. Mr. Grenadier also has corporate governance experience serving on the Board of Directors of the E*TRADE Funds and the Nicholas Applegate Institutional Funds.

L. Joe Moravy. Mr. Moravy has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2008. In addition, he has more than 35 years of business and executive experience primarily in the auditing and accounting area. Mr. Moravy has more than 34 years of audit and accounting-related experience as a certified public accountant at a leading accounting firm where he provided audit and accounting-related services to financial services companies. As a certified public accountant, Mr. Moravy also has gained corporate governance experience through working with the boards of directors and audit committees of public and private corporations. He also has served as a director of several not-for-profit organizations.

David Kabiller. Mr. Kabiller has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2010. In addition, he has more than 20 years of business and executive experience and is a Founding Principal of the Adviser. He has been with the Adviser since its inception in 1998. Prior to founding the Adviser, Mr. Kabiller was associated with Goldman Sachs & Co. where he served as a Vice President (1987-1998).

 

25


Committees of the Board of Trustees

As discussed above, the Board of Trustees currently has two standing committees: (1) an Audit Committee, and (2) a Nominating and Governance Committee. Currently, each Disinterested Trustees serves on each committee. Mr. Kabiller, as an Interested Trustee, is not a member of either committee. Each committee has adopted a written charter setting forth its duties and responsibilities. The Audit Committee met three times and the Nominating and Governance Committee met three times during the 12-months ended December 31, 2010.

Audit Committee. L. Joe Moravy serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is required to meet at least twice a year and

 

   

oversees the accounting, auditing and financial reporting processes of each of the Funds;

 

   

hires (and fires, if needed) the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

pre-approves all audit, audit-related and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds and certain Fund affiliates;

 

   

reviews with the independent registered public accounting firm the proposed scope of, and fees for, their audit, the registered public accounting firm’s independence, and the staffing of the audit team of the Funds;

 

   

receives and considers a report from the independent registered public accounting firm concerning their conduct of the audit, including any comments or recommendations they might want to make in that connection;

 

   

considers all critical accounting policies and practices to be used by each of the Funds and any proposed alternative treatments thereof; and

 

   

investigates any improprieties or suspected improprieties in the operations of each of the Funds.

Nominating and Governance Committee. Steven Grenadier serves as the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee normally meets once a year and as necessary to address governance issues and:

 

   

reviews and assesses the adequacy of the Board’s ongoing adherence to industry corporate governance best practices and makes recommendations as to any appropriate changes;

 

   

reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding Trustee compensation and expense reimbursement policies;

 

   

undertakes periodically to coordinate and facilitate evaluations of the Board and recommend improvements, as appropriate; and

 

   

meets with the Funds’ management to review reports and other information concerning the status of the Funds’ operations, procedures, and processes.

If there is a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee will:

 

   

identify and evaluate potential candidates to fill any such vacancy on the Board;

 

   

select from among the potential candidates a nominee to be presented to the full Board for its consideration; and

 

   

recommend to the Board a nominee to fill any such vacancy.

When seeking suggestions for nominees to serve as independent trustees, the Nominating and Governance Committee may consider suggestions from anyone it deems appropriate. When seeking to fill a position on the Board previously held by an Interested Trustee, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider the views and recommendations of the Adviser. The Nominating and Governance Committee will not normally consider Trustee nominations submitted by shareholders.

Fund Ownership of the Trustees

The following table sets forth, for each Trustee, the dollar range of shares owned in a Fund as of December 31, 2010, as well as the aggregate dollar range of shares owned by the Trustee in the Trust as of the same date:

 

Name of Trustee   

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

     Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by

Director in Family of
Investment Companies
 
     

Name of Fund

         Dollar Range         

Timothy K. Armour

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund      Over $ 100,000         Over $100,000   
   AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund      Over $ 100,000      

 

26


Name of Trustee   

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

     Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen by

Director in Family of
Investment Companies
 
     

Name of Fund

         Dollar Range         

Steven Grenadier

   None           None   

L. Joe Moravy

   AQR Global Equity Fund        $10,001-$50,000         Over $100,000   
   AQR International Equity Fund        $10,001-$50,000      
   AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund        $10,001-$50,000      
   AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund        $50,001-$100,000      
   AQR Risk Parity Fund        $10,001-$50,000      
   AQR Momentum Fund        $10,001-$50,000      
   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund        $10,001-$50,000      
   AQR International Momentum Fund        $10,001-$50,000      

 

David Kabiller

  

 

AQR Global Equity Fund

       Over $100,000         Over $100,000   
  

 

AQR International Equity Fund

       Over $100,000      
   AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund        $10,001-$50,000      
   AQR Risk Parity Fund        Over $100,000      
   AQR Momentum Fund        Over $100,000      
   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund        Over $100,000      
   AQR International Momentum Fund        Over $100,000      

 

Fund Ownership of the Trustees and Officers

As of [        ], the Trustees and Officers of the Trust owned an aggregate of:

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR Global Equity Fund

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR International Equity Fund

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund

 

   

[approximately 1.79% of the AQR Risk Parity Fund]

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR Momentum Fund

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund

 

   

less than 1% of the AQR International Momentum Fund

Compensation of Trustees and Certain Officers

Officers of the Trust and Trustees who are interested persons of the Trust do not receive any compensation from the Trust. The annual retainer paid to Disinterested Trustees prior to September 13, 2010 was $20,000 and the Disinterested Trustees also received a $4,000 per meeting fee for regularly scheduled meetings, plus $1,500 per extraordinary telephonic meeting. Effective March 31, 2010, the Chairman of the Board received an additional $7,500 annual retainer and the Audit Committee Chairman received an additional $2,000 annual retainer. Effective September 13, 2010, the annual retainer paid to Disinterested Trustees is $35,000 and the Disinterested Trustees also will receive a $5,000 per meeting fee for regularly scheduled meetings, plus $2,500 per extraordinary telephonic meeting. Effective September 13, 2010, the Chairman of the Board receives an additional $10,000 annual retainer and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional $5,000 annual retainer. All Trustees are reimbursed for their travel expenses and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending Board meetings (these other expenses are subject to Board review to ensure that they are not excessive). The Trust does not pay any pension or retirement benefits.

 

27


The table below shows the compensation that was paid to the Disinterested Trustees for the Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2010:

COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name of Person, Position       

Estimated Annual Benefits upon

Retirement

      

Aggregate Compensation

from the Trust

Timothy K. Armour, Disinterested Trustee

     None      $48,500

Steven Grenadier, Disinterested Trustee

     None      $42,250

L. Joe Moravy, Disinterested Trustee

     None      $45,000

Personal Trading

The Trust, Adviser and Sub-Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics, which puts restrictions on the timing of personal trading in relation to trades by the Funds and other advisory clients of the Adviser, Sub-Adviser and their affiliates. The codes of ethics, which were adopted in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Advisers Act”), as appropriate, describe the fiduciary duties owed to shareholders of the Funds and to other advisory accounts by all Trustees, officers, members and employees of the Trust, and by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser; establish procedures for personal investing; and restrict certain transactions.

The Funds’ distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) has also adopted a code of ethics governing the personal trading activities of its directors, officers and employees, which contains comparable restrictions.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

The Adviser and Sub-Adviser have adopted joint written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policies”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act, consistent with their fiduciary obligations. The Trust has delegated proxy voting responsibilities with respect to each Fund to the Adviser, subject to the general oversight of the Board. The Proxy Policies have been approved by the Trust as the policies and procedures that the Adviser and Sub-Adviser will use when voting proxies on behalf of the Funds. A copy of the Proxy Policies is attached as Appendix A to this SAI.

Information about how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available no later than August 31, of each year: (i) on the Funds’ web site at www.aqrfunds.com; (ii) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-290-2688 or (iii) on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

Within 15 days following the end of each calendar month, each Fund, other than the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, will make available a complete uncertified schedule of its portfolio holdings as of the end of the month. Within 15 days following the end of each calendar quarter, the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund will make available a complete uncertified schedule of its portfolio holdings as of the end of the quarter. Each Fund will make its portfolio holdings information available to the general public on the Funds’ web site at www.aqrfunds.com.

Portfolio holdings of each Fund will also be disclosed on a quarterly basis no later than sixty (60) days following the end of the preceding quarter on forms required to be filed with the SEC as follows: (i) portfolio holdings as of the end of each fiscal year will be filed as part of the annual report filed on Form N-CSR; (ii) portfolio holdings as of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters will be filed on Form N-Q; and (iii) portfolio holdings as of the end of the six month period will be filed as part of the semi-annual report filed on Form N-CSR. The Trust’s Forms N-CSR and Forms N-Q will be available on the SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov.

Non-public information regarding a Fund, including portfolio holdings information, may be disclosed more frequently or in advance of the website posting or its filing with the SEC on the EDGAR filing system to agents, service providers, analysts, rating agencies, pricing services, proxy voting services or others including the following: advisers and sub-advisers to the Funds, independent registered public accountants, counsel, administrator, transfer agent or custodian, who require access to such information in order to fulfill their contractual duties to the Funds. The provision of such information is subject to a contractual duty of confidentiality, whether in the form of a stand alone confidentiality agreement or in the form of a provision in a broader contract. In addition, in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and in the course of seeking best execution, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser provide information regarding individual portfolio holdings to broker-dealers who may be selected to execute trades for the Funds. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) provide limitations on a broker-dealer’s ability to trade for its own accounts or the accounts of others on the basis of such information. In addition, in connection with a redemption in kind, the redeeming shareholder may be required to agree to keep the information about the securities to be so distributed confidential, except to the extent necessary to dispose of the securities.

 

28


The Adviser makes available certain additional information about the AQR International Equity Fund on the AQR Funds website (www.aqrfunds.com). The Adviser posts monthly performance information relative to the Fund’s benchmark index, the MSCI EAFE Index. The performance information is available on or about the fifth calendar day of each month. The Adviser also posts information about the Fund’s performance attribution, including contributors/detractors to Fund performance, the Fund’s country and sector exposures and the general characteristics about the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s performance attribution information is available on or about the fifth Business Day of each month.

The Adviser makes available certain additional information about the AQR Global Equity Fund on the AQR Funds website (www.aqrfunds.com). The Adviser will post monthly performance information relative to the Fund’s benchmark index, the MSCI World Index. The performance information will be available on or about the fifth calendar day of each month. The Adviser also will post information about the Fund’s performance attribution, including contributors/detractors to Fund performance, the Fund’s country and sector exposures and the general characteristics about the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s performance attribution information will be available on or about the fifth Business Day of each month.

Other than as noted above, non-public information regarding a Fund, including portfolio holdings information, may not be released to any party prior to its being posted on the Funds’ website or filed with the SEC through the EDGAR filing system without the specific prior written consent of an executive officer of the Trust, which consent must identify the party to receive such information, the frequency of such disclosures and the business purpose therefore. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and the executive officers of the Trust monitor the release of non-public information regarding the Trust. In order to assess whether there are any conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders and the interests of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates, the Trustees will review at each regular meeting of the Board of Trustees the information related to any such written approvals that have been approved by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser since the last regular meeting of the Board of Trustees.

The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust is responsible for ensuring that the Funds have adopted and implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy and, to the extent necessary, the Chief Compliance Officer and/or his or her designee shall monitor the Funds with this policy.

Any exceptions to the policy may be made only if approved by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust upon determining that the exception is in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders. The Chief Compliance Officer must report any exceptions made to the policy to the Trustees at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Each violation of the disclosure policy must be reported to the Chief Compliance Officer. If the Chief Compliance Officer, in the exercise of his or her duties, deems that such violation constitutes a “Material Compliance Matter” within the meaning of Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act, he or she shall report it to the applicable Trustees, as required by Rule 38a-1.

The Trustees reserve the right to amend the Trust’s policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of portfolio holdings at any time and from time to time without prior notice and in their sole discretion. The Board of Trustees also considers the reports and recommendations of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding any material compliance matters that may arise with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information and periodically, as required under the circumstances, considers whether to approve or ratify any amendment to the Trust’s policies and procedures regarding the dissemination of portfolio holdings information.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Investment Adviser

The Adviser, AQR Capital Management, LLC, Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830, serves as the investment adviser to each of the Funds pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement or an Investment Management Agreement entered into by the Trust, on behalf of each of the Funds (together, the “Advisory Agreement”). Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser furnishes a continuous investment program for each Fund’s portfolio, makes day-to-day investment decisions for each Fund, and manages each of the Funds’ investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund. The Adviser is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers to execute purchase and sale orders for the portfolio transactions of each Fund, subject to its obligation to seek best execution. The Adviser provides persons satisfactory to the Trustees to serve as officers of the Funds. Such officers, as well as certain other employees and Trustees of the Trust, may be directors, officers, or employees of the Adviser.

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Funds pay the Adviser a management fee on a monthly basis in an amount equal to the following amounts annually of the average daily net assets of each of the Funds:

 

29


Fund:

   Management Fee  

AQR Global Equity Fund

     0.40%   

AQR International Equity Fund

     0.45%   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

     1.00%   

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund

     1.05%   

AQR Risk Parity Fund

     0.75% of the first $1 billion   
     0.70% exceeding $1 billion   

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund

     [    ]%   

AQR Momentum Fund

     0.25%   

AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund

     0.35%   

AQR International Momentum Fund

     0.35%   

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Trust paid the Adviser management fees (after waivers), and the Adviser waived management fees and reimbursed expenses, as follows:

 

Funds

   Fees Paid
(After Waivers
and
Reimbursements)
     Waivers      Reimbursements  

AQR Global Equity Fund1

     N/A         N/A         N/A   

AQR International Equity Fund2

   $ 286,617       $ 239,223       $ 0   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund3

   $ 168,862       $ 307,564       $ 0   

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund1

     N/A         N/A         N/A   

AQR Risk Parity Fund1

     N/A         N/A         N/A   

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund1

     N/A         N/A         N/A   

AQR Momentum Fund4

   $ 0       $ 5,345       $ 116,707   

AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund4

   $ 0       $ 4,942       $ 117,532   

AQR International Momentum Fund4

   $ 0       $ 21,492       $ 90,836   

 

 

1 The Fund paid no advisory fees during the period because the Fund had not yet commenced operations.
2 For the period August 28, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
3 For the period January 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
4 For the period July 9, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Trust paid the Adviser management fees (after waivers), and the Adviser waived management fees and reimbursed expenses, as follows:

 

Funds

   Fees Paid
(After Waivers
and
Reimbursements)
     Waivers      Reimbursements  

AQR Global Equity Fund

   $ 1,214,635       $ 0       $ 287,811   

AQR International Equity Fund

   $ 1,783,889       $ 110,503       $ 0   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

   $ 5,480,605       $ 0       $ 0   

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund1

   $ 2,884,035       $ 96,550       $ 0   

AQR Risk Parity Fund2

   $ 0       $ 36,242       $ 97,341   

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund3

     N/A         N/A         N/A   

AQR Momentum Fund

   $ 0       $ 87,137       $ 25,639   

AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund

   $ 0       $ 49,659       $ 97,632   

AQR International Momentum Fund

   $ 0       $ 117,405       $ 98,466   

 

 

1 For the period January 6, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

 

30


2 For the period September 30, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
3 The Fund paid no advisory fees during the period because the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

In addition to the payments to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement described above, each Fund pays certain other costs of its operations including (a) custody, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, (b) certain amounts paid to intermediaries in recognition of the transfer agency costs avoided by the Funds as a result of the customer recordkeeping activities of the intermediaries, (c) distribution related fees for the Class N shares, (d) fees of Trustees who are not affiliated with the Adviser, (e) legal and auditing expenses, (f) litigation expenses, (g) clerical, accounting and other office costs, (h) costs of printing the Funds’ prospectuses and shareholder reports for current shareholders, (i) costs of maintaining the Trust’s existence, (j) interest charges, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, (k) costs of stationery and supplies, (l) expenses and fees related to registration and filing with the SEC and with state regulatory authorities, and (m) upon the approval of the Board of Trustees, costs of personnel of the Adviser or its affiliates rendering clerical, accounting and other office services.

The Adviser may, from time to time, make payments to financial intermediaries for certain distribution, sub-administration, sub-transfer agency or other shareholder services provided to Class N, Class I and Class L shareholders of the Funds whose shares are held of record in certain omnibus accounts and other group accounts (e.g., a fund “supermarket” account). The Adviser makes any such payments out of the Adviser’s own resources without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders.

Investment Sub-Adviser

The Trust and Adviser have retained the Sub-Adviser, CNH Partners, LLC, Two Greenwich Plaza, 1st Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830, to serve as the investment sub-adviser to the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser, under the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser furnishes a continuous investment program for the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund’s portfolio and for certain sub-strategies of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund’s portfolio, makes day-to-day investment decisions for the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and certain sub-strategies of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund’s portfolio, and manages each Fund’s investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers to execute purchase and sale orders for the portfolio transactions of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and with respect to the portfolio transactions for the sub-strategies it manages of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, subject to its obligation to seek best execution.

For managing the assets of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, the Adviser compensates the Sub-Adviser out of the management fee the Adviser receives for managing the Fund. Effective October 1, 2010, the Sub-Adviser received from the Adviser a fee payable monthly equal to 1.00% annually of the average daily net assets for the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund. Prior to October 1, 2010, the Sub-Adviser received from the Adviser a fee payable monthly equal to 0.70% annually of the average daily net assets for the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund. For the period January 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Adviser paid the Sub-Adviser $476,426. For the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the Adviser paid the Sub-Adviser $5,480,605.

[For managing assets allocable to certain sub-strategies of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, the Adviser compensates the Sub-Adviser out of the management fee the Adviser receives for managing the Fund. The Sub-Adviser will receive from the Adviser a fee payable monthly equal to [    ]% annually of the average daily net assets for the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund.]

Portfolio Manager Compensation

Compensation for Portfolio Managers that are Principals: The compensation for each of the portfolio managers that are a Principal of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, is in the form of distributions based on the revenues generated by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as the case may be. Distributions to each portfolio manager are based on cumulative research, leadership and other contributions to the Adviser or Sub-Adviser. A portfolio manager may also be paid a percentage of the net revenues generated by certain strategies employed by products of the Adviser, which may include mutual funds. Revenue distributions are also a function of assets under management and performance of the Funds. There is no direct linkage between performance and compensation. However, there is an indirect linkage in that superior performance tends to attract assets and thus increase revenues.

Compensation for Portfolio Managers that are not Principals: The compensation for the portfolio managers that are not Principals of the Adviser primarily consists of a fixed base salary and a discretionary bonus. Under the Adviser’s salary administration system, salary increases are granted on a merit basis, and in this regard, salaries are reviewed at least annually under a formal review program. Job performance contributes significantly to the determination of any salary increase; other factors, such as seniority and contributions to the Adviser are also considered. Discretionary bonuses are determined by the portfolio manager’s individual performance, including efficiency, contributions to the Adviser and quality of work performed. A portfolio manager’s performance is not based on any specific fund’s or strategy’s performance, but is affected by the overall performance of the firm.

 

31


Portfolio Manager Holdings

The dollar range of equity securities of each Fund listed below beneficially owned by the portfolio managers of such Fund as of December 31, 2010, unless noted otherwise, is as follows:

 

Portfolio Manager

  

Name of Fund

   Dollar Range of Equity  Securities
Beneficially Owned
Clifford Asness, Ph.D.    AQR Global Equity Fund    Over $1,000,000
   AQR International Equity Fund    $500,001 -$1,000,000
   AQR Momentum Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR International Momentum Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund    None
John Liew, Ph.D.   

 

AQR Global Equity Fund

   $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR International Equity Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund    None
   AQR Risk Parity Fund    Over $1,000,000
Jacques Friedman   

 

AQR Momentum Fund

   None
   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund    None
   AQR International Momentum Fund    None

 

Brian Hurst

  

 

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund

   $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR Risk Parity Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
Ronen Israel   

 

AQR Global Equity Fund

   None
   AQR International Equity Fund    None
   AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund    None
   AQR Momentum Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   AQR International Momentum Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
Oktay Kurbanov   

 

AQR Global Equity Fund

   None
   AQR International Equity Fund    None
Mark Mitchell, Ph.D.    AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
Lars Nielsen    AQR Global Equity Fund    None
   AQR International Equity Fund    None
   AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund    None
   AQR Momentum Fund    None
   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund    None
   AQR International Momentum Fund    None
Todd Pulvino, Ph.D.    AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
Michael Mendelson    AQR Risk Parity Fund    None
Yao Hua Ooi    AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund    $50,001-$100,000
   AQR Risk Parity Fund    $10,001-$50,000

 

32


Other Accounts Managed

Each of the portfolio managers is also responsible for managing other accounts in addition to the respective Fund or Funds which the portfolio manager manages, including other accounts of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates, such as separately managed accounts for foundations, endowments, pension plans, and high net-worth families. Other accounts may also include accounts managed by the portfolio managers in a personal or other capacity, and may include registered investment companies and unregistered investment companies relying on either Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (such companies are commonly referred to as “hedge funds”). Management of other accounts in addition to the Funds can present certain conflicts of interest, as described below.

From time to time, potential conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of a Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. The other accounts might have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Funds, or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the Funds. Because of their positions with the Funds, the portfolio managers know the size, timing and possible market impact of a Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of other accounts they manage and to the possible detriment of a Fund. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s management of a number of accounts with similar investment guidelines. Often, an investment opportunity may be suitable for both a Fund and other accounts managed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for both the Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by a Fund and another account. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of the other accounts simultaneously, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or portfolio manager may aggregate the purchases and sales of the securities and will allocate the securities transactions in a manner that it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of the allocations, there may be instances where the Fund will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts or that may not be allocated the full amount of the securities sought to be traded. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, that the overall benefits outweigh any disadvantages that may arise from this practice. Subject to applicable laws and/or account restrictions, AQR may buy, sell or hold securities for other accounts while entering into a different or opposite investment decision for the Funds.

The Adviser, Sub-Adviser and the Funds’ portfolio managers may also face a conflict of interest where some accounts pay higher fees to the Adviser than others, such as by means of performance fees. In addition, if a portfolio manager’s compensation is based, in part, on the net revenues from investments into a particular strategy, the structure of the manager’s compensation may create an incentive to take undue risk in order to generate performance that will result in higher cash in-flows.

The Adviser and Sub-Adviser have implemented specific policies and procedures (e.g., a code of ethics and trade allocation policies) that seek to address potential conflicts that may arise in connection with the management of the Funds, separately managed accounts and other accounts.

The following table indicates the number of accounts and assets under management (in millions) for each type of account managed as of December 31, 2010.

 

       

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED AND

ASSETS BY ACCOUNT TYPE

 

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS AND ASSETS FOR

WHICH THE ADVISORY FEE IS BASED ON

PERFORMANCE

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

FUNDS
MANAGED BY
PORTFOLIO
MANAGER

 

REGISTERED
INVESTMENT
COMPANY

 

OTHER POOLED

INVESTMENT

VEHICLES

 

OTHER

ACCOUNTS

 

REGISTERED
INVESTMENT
COMPANY

 

OTHER POOLED
INVESTMENT
VEHICLES

 

OTHER

ACCOUNTS

       

# of

Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under

Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

Clifford S. Asness

  $25,038,249,446   6   1,230,240,466   50   9,897,748,407   49   13,910,260,573   0   —     28   7,244,493,797   5   1,161,738,294

Ronen Israel

  $24,052,997,123   6   1,127,457,674   43   9,015,278,876   49   13,910,260,573   0   —     22   6,362,024,266   5   1,161,738,294

Lars Nielsen

  $24,935,466,654   6   1,127,457,674   49   9,897,748,407   49   13,910,260,573   0   —     28   7,244,493,797   5   1,161,738,294

John M. Liew

  $16,653,017,335   3   937,650,660   30   6,483,712,625   24   9,231,654,050   0   —     20   6,047,546,932   3   1,006,718,473

Oktay Kurbanov

  $16,319,100,270   1   603,733,595   28   6,483,712,625   24   9,231,654,050   0   —     20   6,047,546,932   3   1,006,718,473

Brian Hurst

  $17,258,540,354   1   269,336,112   28   7,757,550,192   24   9,231,654,050   0   —     11   4,687,396,387   3   1,006,718,473

Jacques A. Friedman

  $23,163,586,426   5   996,503,775   39   8,256,822,078   49   13,910,260,573   0   —     18   5,583,089,927   5   1,161,738,294

Mark Mitchell

  $3,064,362,566   1   130,953,899   13   2,933,408,667   0   —     0   —     10   2,933,408,667   0   —  

Todd Pulvino

  $3,064,362,566   1   130,953,899   13   2,933,408,667   0   —     0   —     10   2,933,408,667   0   —  

 

33


       

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED AND

ASSETS BY ACCOUNT TYPE

 

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS AND ASSETS FOR

WHICH THE ADVISORY FEE IS BASED ON

PERFORMANCE

PORTFOLIO

MANAGER

 

FUNDS
MANAGED BY
PORTFOLIO
MANAGER

 

REGISTERED
INVESTMENT
COMPANY

     

OTHER

POOLED
INVESTMENT
VEHICLES

 

OTHER
ACCOUNTS

 

REGISTERED
INVESTMENT
COMPANY

 

OTHER

POOLED
INVESTMENT
VEHICLES

 

OTHER
ACCOUNTS

       

# of

Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

 

# of
Accts.

 

Assets Under
Management

Yao Hua Ooi

  $4,532,920,826   1   269,336,112   13   4,263,584,714   0   —     0   —     4   1,618,360,124   0   —  

Michael
Mendelson

  $4,242,876,633   0   —     16   4,242,876,633   0   —     0   —     5   1,597,652,043   0   —  

Administrator and Fund Accountant

On behalf of the Funds, the Trust has entered into an Administration Agreement (the “JPM Administration Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co. (the “JPM Administrator”) located at One Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108. The JPM Administration Agreement took effect: (1) with respect to the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, on September 12, 2010, (2) with respect to all Funds other than the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the AQR Risk Parity Fund, September 19, 2010, and (3) with respect to the AQR Risk Parity Fund, September 30, 2010 (the inception date of the Fund) (collectively referred to as the “JPM Effective Date”). The JPM Administrator will also serve as administrator to the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund upon its inception. Under the JPM Administration Agreement, the JPM Administrator’s services include, but are not limited to, the following: preparing minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees and assisting the Secretary of the Trust in preparing for quarterly meetings of the Board of Trustees; performing certain compliance tests for the Trust; participating in the annual update of the Trust’s registration statement and coordinating in the preparation and filing of certain other Trust filings and documents; preparing federal and state income tax returns for the Trust; performing net asset value calculations; establishing appropriate expense accruals, maintaining expense files and coordinating the payment of invoices for the Trust. For the period from the JPM Effective Date to December 31, 2010, the Trust paid JPM Administrator fees of $317,969.

The JPM Administration Agreement continues in effect for an initial term of three years and will automatically renew upon the expiration of the initial term. Either party may terminate the agreement upon not less than six months’ prior written notice to the other party.

Prior to the JPM Effective Date, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds other than the AQR Risk Parity Fund and the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, entered into a Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement (the “BNY Administration Agreement”) with The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Administrator”) located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286. Under the BNY Administration Agreement, the BNY Administrator’s services included, but were not limited to, the following: preparing minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees and assisting the Secretary of the Trust in preparing for quarterly meetings of the Board of Trustees; performing certain compliance tests for the Trust; participating in the periodic update of the Trust’s registration statement and coordinating in the preparation, filing, printing and dissemination of certain other Trust filings and documents; preparing workpapers supporting the preparation of federal, state and local income tax returns for the Trust; establishing appropriate expense accruals, maintaining expense files and coordinating the payment of invoices for the Trust. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Trust paid BNY Administrator $238,594. For the period January 1, 2010 through the JPM Effective Date, the Trust paid BNY Administrator $634,975.

Distributor

The Trust has entered into a Distribution Agreement, on behalf of each Fund, with the Distributor, ALPS Distributors, Inc. pursuant to which the Distributor acts as distributor for each Fund and acts as agent for each Fund in selling its shares to the public. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203. The Distributor offers shares of the Funds on a continuous basis and may engage in advertising and solicitation activities in connection therewith. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any certain number of shares of the Funds. The Distributor also reviews advertisements and acts as liaison for broker-dealer relationships. Investors purchasing or redeeming shares of a Fund through another financial institution should read any materials and information provided by the financial institution to acquaint themselves with its procedures and any fees that the institution may charge. The Distribution Agreement continues in effect until December 7, 2011 and shall continue in effect for successive one-year periods ending each December 7th provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trustees or (ii) the vote of a majority of outstanding shares of the Fund, and provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Distribution Agreement.

 

34


Distribution Plan

The Board has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the Class N shares of each Fund (the “12b-1 Plan”). Under the 12b-1 Plan, the Class N shares of each Fund pay a distribution fee of 0.25% to the Distributor as compensation for distribution activities related to Class N shares of each Fund. Because these fees are paid out of each Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of an investment and may cost a shareholder more than paying other types of sales charges. The 12b-1 Plan provides that the distribution fees are payable to the Distributor regardless of the amounts actually expended by the Distributor.

Authorized distribution expenses include the Distributor’s interest expense and profit. The Distributor anticipates that actual expenditures on distribution will substantially exceed the distribution fee received by it during the early years of the operation of the 12b-1 Plan. In later years, its expenditures may be less than the distribution fee, thus enabling the Distributor to realize a profit in those years.

If the 12b-1 Plan is terminated with respect to a Fund, the Fund will owe no payments to the Distributor other than fees accrued but unpaid on the termination date. The 12b-1 Plan may be terminated only by specific action of the Trustees or shareholders.

The 12b-1 Plan shall continue in effect from year to year with respect to each Fund, provided such continuance is approved at least annually by the Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder) and, in either case, by a majority of the Independent Trustees. The 12b-1 Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services described therein without approval of the shareholders of the Class N shares of a Fund, and all material amendments of a 12b-1 Plan must also be approved by the Trustees in the manner described above. The 12b-1 Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) on not more than 60 days’ written notice to any other party to the 12b-1 Plan. So long as the 12b-1 Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not such interested persons has been committed to those Trustees who are not such interested persons.

Pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan, the Distributor shall provide the Trust for review by the Trustees, and the Trustees shall review at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended under the 12b-1 Plan. In the Trustees’ quarterly review of the 12b-1 Plan, they will consider its continued appropriateness and the level of compensation provided therein. The Trustees have determined that, in their judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit the respective Funds and their shareholders.

The table below provides information for the period ended December 31, 2009 about the 12b-1 fees each Fund paid to the Distributor under the Trust’s 12b-1 Plan.

 

Funds

       Fees Paid      

AQR Global Equity Fund1

     N/A   

AQR International Equity Fund2

     0   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund3

   $ 70,114   

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund1

     N/A   

AQR Risk Parity Fund1

     N/A   

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund1

     N/A   

 

1 The Fund paid no 12b-1 fees during the period because the Fund had not yet commenced operations.
2 For the period August 28, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
3 For the period January 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

The table below provides information for the period ended December 31, 2010 about the 12b-1 fees each Fund paid to the Distributor under the Trust’s 12b-1 Plan.

 

Funds

       Fees Paid      

AQR Global Equity Fund

   $ 2,780   

AQR International Equity Fund

   $ 2,260   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

   $ 580,768   

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund1

   $ 160,102   

AQR Risk Parity Fund2

   $ 5,890   

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund3

     N/A   

 

1 For the period January 6, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
2 For the period September 30, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
3 The Fund paid no 12b-1 fees during the period because the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

 

35


Custodian

Effective September 12, 2010 with respect to the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, September 19, 2010 with respect to all funds other than the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the AQR Risk Parity Fund and September 30, 2010 with respect to the AQR Risk Parity Fund (collectively referred to herein as the “Effective Date”), the Custodian for the Funds is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPM Custodian”), located at 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, NY 10005. The JPM Custodian will also serve as the custodian of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund upon its inception. The JPM Custodian has no part in determining the investment policies of the Funds or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Funds. Under a custody agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, the Custodian holds each Fund’s securities and maintains all necessary accounts and records.

Prior to the Effective Date, the Custodian for all Funds with the exception of the AQR Risk Parity Fund and the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund, was The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Custodian”), located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286. The BNY Custodian had no part in determining the investment policies of the Funds or which securities were to be purchased or sold by a Fund. Under a custody agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, the BNY Custodian held each Fund’s securities and maintained all necessary accounts and records.

Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent

ALPS Fund Services, Inc., located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203, has been retained to serve as the Funds’ transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Shareholder Services Agreement

The Trust has entered into a Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to each Class of Shares of each Fund other than the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund, the AQR Risk Parity Fund and the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund. Effective July 1, 2010, the Trust, on behalf of the AQR Global Equity Fund and AQR International Equity Fund, reduced the Shareholder Services fee for the Class Y Shares to zero. In addition, effective October 1, 2010, the Trust, on behalf of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, terminated the Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to the Class N and I Shares of the Fund. Under the Shareholder Services Agreement, each Fund pays the Adviser a fee for providing or arranging for the provision of certain services to shareholders of the Fund of up to 0.35%, 0.30%, 0.25% and 0.15%, annually of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class N shares, Class I Shares, Class Y shares and Class L shares, respectively. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Trust paid the Adviser shareholder service fees, as follows:

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Trust paid the Adviser shareholder services fees as follows:

 

Funds

   Fees Paid
    (After Waivers)    
         Waivers      

AQR Global Equity Fund

     7,614         447,840   

AQR International Equity Fund

   $ 0       $ 644,980   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

   $ 947,520       $ 235,386   

AQR Momentum Fund

   $ 0       $ 52,283   

AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund

   $ 0       $ 21,282   

AQR International Momentum Fund

   $ 0       $ 50,316   

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

Each Fund’s NAV is computed as of the scheduled close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day during which the NYSE is open for trading. If the NYSE closes at any other time, or if an emergency exists, transaction deadlines and NAV calculations may occur at different times. The NAV per share of each Fund is computed by dividing the total current value of the assets of the Fund attributable to a class, less class liabilities, by the total number of shares of that class of the Fund outstanding at the time such computation is made.

The Funds’ portfolio securities are valued as of the close of business of the regular session of trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). Securities traded on a national stock exchange or quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market, and which are not quoted by NASDAQ, are valued at the last sale price, if available, otherwise at the last quoted bid price. Futures contracts are generally valued at the last quoted sales price on the applicable valuation date.

 

36


The Funds normally value equity securities and futures contracts primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets as described above. However, the Funds have implemented and normally use fair value pricing on a daily basis for all equity securities that are not primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets because trading in these securities typically is completed at times that vary significantly from the closing of the NYSE. This fair value pricing process for foreign equity securities uses the quotations of an independent pricing service to value each such security unless (i) the pricing service does not provide prices for the security, in which event the Fund may use market value or fair value in accordance with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures or (ii) the Trust’s Valuation Committee determines that (a) a quote provided by the service does not accurately reflect the value of the security and (b) the use of another fair valuation methodology is appropriate.

Futures contracts that are not primarily traded on North American, Central American, South American and Caribbean markets are normally valued at the settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. If the Fund or the Adviser determine that the settlement price of the foreign exchange is not reliable, the futures contract will be valued based on its fair value as determined in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at such investment company’s current day closing net asset value per share. Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end investment companies are valued at the last quoted sales price. Equity, total return and commodity swap contracts are valued at fair value, based on the price of the underlying referenced instrument. Credit default swaps are valued daily primarily using independent pricing services or market makers. Interest rate swap contracts are valued at fair value as determined by an independent pricing service based on various valuation models which consider the terms of underlying contracts and market data inputs received from third parties.

Securities for which market quotations or independent pricing service quotations are not readily available or which are not readily marketable and all other assets of the Funds are valued at fair value using Valuation Procedures for the Funds, which have been approved by the Board of Trustees. The procedures require that the Valuation Committee, as designated from time to time, meet on an as-needed basis to value any securities or other assets for which prices or valuations are not readily determinable by the Funds’ pricing agent. The Valuation Committee considers time-sensitive valuation issues, including those relating to market closures, changes in illiquid security values and other events that may have a potentially material impact on security values. At each regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held during a quarter following a meeting of the Valuation Committee, the Valuation Committee presents a written report for the Board’s review and approval that discusses the procedures and practices employed in connection with any action taken by the Committee during the prior period. In addition, the Valuation Committee annually reviews all the valuation methodologies used by it and takes any actions necessary to ensure that appropriate procedures and internal controls are in place to address valuation issues. A written report of this review is presented annually to the Board of Trustees for its review.

In determining the value of portfolio investments, the Fund may employ independent third party pricing services, which may use, without limitation, a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indexes, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments. This may result in the securities being valued at a price different from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used. Prices obtained from independent third party pricing services to value each Fund’s securities and other assets and liabilities are based on information available at the time the Fund values its assets and liabilities. In the event that a pricing service quotation is revised or updated subsequent to the day on which the Fund valued such security, the revised pricing service quotation generally will be applied prospectively. Such determination shall be made considering pertinent facts and circumstances surrounding such revision.

Calculation of Offering Price

An illustration of the calculation of the offering price for the outstanding shares of each Fund (Class I for each of the AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the AQR Risk Parity Fund and Class L for each of the AQR Momentum Fund, AQR International Momentum Fund and AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund) based on the value of that Fund’s net assets and number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2010 is set forth below.

 

         
                                     
     

AQR Global
Equity Fund

 

    

AQR International
      Equity Fund      

 

    

AQR Diversified
    Arbitrage Fund    

 

    

 

AQR Managed Futures
Strategy Fund

 

 

Net Assets

 

           $

 

1,841,838

 

  

 

    

 

        $85,968,655

 

  

 

           $

 

824,237,659

 

  

 

    

 

        $657,237,349

 

  

 

Number of Shares Outstanding

 

    

 

167,896

 

  

 

    

 

8,227,394

 

  

 

    

 

73,942,810

 

  

 

    

 

63,824,670

 

  

 

Net Asset Value Per Share (net assets divided by number of shares outstanding)

     $10.97         $10.45         $11.15         $10.30   

Sales Charge

     None         None         None         None   
                                     
                                     
                                     

Offering Price

 

    

 

$10.97

 

  

 

    

 

$10.45

 

  

 

    

 

$11.15

 

  

 

    

 

$10.30

 

  

 

                                     

 

37


      

 

AQR Risk Parity    

Fund    

  

  

    

 

AQR Momentum    

Fund    

  

  

  

AQR Small Cap    

Momentum Fund    

   AQR International   Momentum Fund  
                     

Net Assets

 

    

 

$12,747,565

 

  

 

    

 

$124,491,353

 

  

 

  

$54,504,582  

 

  

$62,091,379

 

Number of Shares Outstanding

 

    

 

1,240,567

 

  

 

    

 

8,646,886

 

  

 

  

3,788,903  

 

  

4,559,775

 

Net Asset Value Per Share (net assets divided by number of shares outstanding)

     $10.28         $14.40       $14.39      $13.62

Sales Charge

     None         None       None      None

Offering Price

 

    

 

$10.28

 

  

 

    

 

$14.40

 

  

 

  

$14.39  

 

  

$13.62

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Cut-Off Time for Purchase and Redemption Orders

Orders to purchase or redeem shares received by the Transfer Agent, or by a financial intermediary authorized to receive such orders, by the cut-off time indicated in the Funds’ Prospectus will be processed at the NAV next calculated after the order is received by the Transfer Agent or the financial intermediary that is an authorized agent of the Funds. Under a variety of different types of servicing agreements, financial intermediaries that are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders from investors are permitted to transmit those orders that are received by the financial intermediary before the cut-off time in the Prospectus to the Transfer Agent by the cut-off times stated in those agreements, which are generally later than the cut-off time stated in the Prospectus. Financial intermediaries are prohibited by law from transmitting orders received after the cut-off time stated in the Prospectus to the Transfer Agent for processing at that day’s NAV. Any order otherwise received after the cut-off time stated in the Prospectus will be specifically identified for processing on the next day on which a NAV is computed.

Purchases In-Kind

The Trust may permit purchases of any of the Fund’s shares by means of in-kind contributions of portfolio securities under limited circumstances in accordance with procedures approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. In-kind purchases of Fund shares may only be permitted if the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, determines that acceptance of the in-kind securities will not adversely affect the purchasing Fund, does not favor a shareholder of the purchasing Fund to the detriment of another shareholder of the purchasing Fund, and conforms with the purchasing Fund’s fundamental investment objectives, policies and restrictions. In-kind securities will be valued in the same manner as they would be valued for purposes of computing a Fund’s NAV. The Fund will not be liable for any brokerage commission or fee (except for customary transfer fees) in connection with an in-kind purchase of Fund shares.

Your broker may impose a fee in connection with processing your in-kind purchase of Fund shares. An investor contemplating an in-kind purchase of Fund shares should consult his or her tax adviser to determine the tax consequences under federal and state law of making such a purchase.

Redemptions In-Kind

Payment of the redemption price for shares redeemed may be made either in cash or in portfolio securities (selected in the discretion of the Board of Trustees and taken at their value used in determining a Fund’s net asset value per share as described under “Determination of Net Asset Value”), or partly in cash and partly in portfolio securities. However, payments will be made wholly in cash unless the Board of Trustees believes that economic conditions exist which would make such a practice detrimental to the best interests of a Fund. Moreover, the Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, under which the Funds are obligated to redeem their shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of their net asset value during any 90-day period for one shareholder. This election is irrevocable unless the SEC permits its withdrawal. If payment for shares redeemed is made wholly or partly in portfolio securities, brokerage costs may be incurred by the investor in converting the securities to cash. The Funds may redeem shares held by affiliates in kind as long as neither the affiliated shareholder nor any other party with the ability and pecuniary incentive to influence the redemption in kind selects, or influences the selection of the distributed securities and as long as the

 

38


redemption in kind is approved by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, in a manner consistent with SEC rules, regulations and interpretive positions.

Involuntary Redemptions.

Each Fund reserves the right to involuntarily redeem any shareholder’s account, subject to applicable law, if:

 

   

the Fund or a class of its shares are to be terminated;

 

   

the value of the account falls below any investment minimum for the account set by the Trust, provided that (1) the Trust provides a written notice of redemption to the shareholder at least 15 days before the redemption date, and (2) any policies adopted by the Board with respect to the redemption of small accounts have been disclosed to shareholders at least 60 days prior to the mailing of the written notice of redemption;

 

   

the shareholder fails to pay when due the full purchase price of shares issued to him;

 

   

it appears appropriate to do so in connection with a failure of the appropriate person(s) to furnish certified taxpayer identification numbers, other tax-related certifications, or if the Fund is unable to verify the account holder’s identity;

 

   

the Fund otherwise determines it appropriate to do so in light of the Fund’s responsibilities under the Investment Company Act or other applicable law or necessary to prevent harm to the Trust or its shareholders.

If a shareholder’s account is involuntarily redeemed, a check for the redemption proceeds payable to the shareholder will be mailed to the shareholder at the shareholder’s address of record.

Other Purchase and Redemption Information.

Each Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order for its shares in its sole discretion.

Each of the Funds reserves the right to suspend or postpone redemptions during any period when: (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC; (b) the NYSE is closed other than for customary weekend and holiday closings; (c) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension or postponement for the protection of the shareholders or (d) an emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists making disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of a Fund not reasonably practicable. Upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions, each of the Funds may also suspend or postpone the recording of the transfer of its shares.

In addition, each of the Funds may compel the redemption of, reject any order for, or refuse to give effect on the Fund’s books to the transfer of, its shares where the relevant investor or investors have not furnished the Fund with valid, certified taxpayer identification numbers and such other tax-related certifications or other necessary documentation as the Fund may request.

Brokers or other financial intermediaries may charge their customers a processing or service fee in connection with the purchase or redemption of the Funds’ shares. The amount and applicability of such a fee is determined and disclosed to its customers by each individual broker or financial intermediary. Processing or service fees typically are fixed, nominal dollar amounts and are in addition to the charges described in the prospectus and this SAI. An investor’s broker will provide them with specific information about any processing or service fees they will be charged.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The frequency of portfolio transactions is generally expressed in terms of a portfolio turnover rate. For example, an annual turnover rate of 100% would occur if all of the securities in a Fund were replaced once a year.

The Adviser or Sub-Adviser for a Fund may engage in active short-term trading to rebalance the Fund’s portfolio or for other reasons. It is anticipated that the portfolio turnover may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may be affected by changes in the holdings of specific issuers, changes in country and currency weightings, cash requirements for redemption of shares and by requirements which enable a Fund to receive favorable tax treatment. The Funds are not restricted by policy with regard to their portfolio turnover rates. Higher portfolio turnover rates, such as rates in excess of 100%, and short-term trading involve correspondingly greater commission expenses and transaction costs.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

The Adviser and Sub-Adviser, as applicable, are responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions. Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Brokerage commissions on U.S.

 

39


securities exchanges are subject to negotiation between the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, and the broker. In the over-the-counter market, securities are sometimes traded on a “net” basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. Trades of NASD listed securities may be made on an agency basis and a commission is added to such trades. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price, which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. On occasion, certain money market instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.

When decisions are made to purchase or sell the same securities simultaneously for a number of client accounts, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may aggregate into a single trade order (a “bunched” trade) several individual contemporaneous client trade orders for a single security if the Adviser or Sub-Adviser deems this to be appropriate and in the best interests of the client accounts involved. Bunched trades may be used to facilitate best execution, including negotiating more favorable prices, obtaining more timely or equitable execution, or reducing overall commission charges. Accounts that are eligible to purchase shares in initial public offerings may participate in aggregated orders for such shares. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, seeks to aggregate trade orders in a manner that is consistent with its duty to: (1) seek best execution of client orders, (2) treat all clients fairly, and (3) not systematically advantage or disadvantage any single client.

When an aggregated order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share price for the aggregated order, and transaction costs shall be shared pro rata based on each client’s participation in the aggregated order. If an order cannot be completely filled and the investment opportunity is determined to be equally suitable and appropriate for more than one account, allocations will generally be made pro rata, subject to rounding to achieve round lots, based upon the initial amount requested for an account participating in the aggregated order. Each account participating in a particular aggregated or “bunched trade” will receive the share price with respect to that aggregated order or, as appropriate, the average share price for all executed “bunched” trades on that trading day. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser may allocate on a basis other than pro rata, if, under the circumstances, such other method of allocation is reasonable, does not result in any improper or undisclosed advantage or disadvantage to other accounts, and results in fair access over time to trading opportunities for all eligible managed accounts. For example, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may identify investment opportunities that are appropriate for certain accounts and not others, based on such factors as investment objectives, style, risk/return parameters, regulatory and client restrictions, tax status, account size, sensitivity to turnover, available cash and cash flows. Consequently, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may decide it is more appropriate to place a given security in one account rather than another account. Other non-pro rata methods include rotation allocation or random allocation. Alternative methods of allocation are appropriate, for example, when the transaction size is too limited to be effectively allocated pro rata among all eligible accounts.

On occasion, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser will purchase a new issue, shares in an IPO, or shares in a secondary equity offering (“SEO”) for accounts/Funds and the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may be unable to obtain sufficient securities to fill the orders for all the participating accounts/Funds. For those accounts/Funds participating in the purchase the Adviser or Sub-Adviser will use a method that ensures the fair treatment of all participating accounts/Funds.

IPOs or SEOs will be allocated pro rata based on the participating portfolio’s estimated NAV targeting the IPO or SEO strategy. The IPO and SEO allocation is subject to an accounts/Funds’ investment objective. The Adviser or Sub-Adviser’s equity IPO/SEO allocation methodology may exclude accounts/Funds from receiving IPO/SEO allocations if/when (i) an account/Fund does not trade individual stocks; (ii) an IPO/SEO allocation is inconsistent with the investment objectives of the account/Fund (e.g. certain IPOs or SEOs may be illiquid, of a small deal size, or an incompatible security type); (iii) an IPO/SEO allocation cannot be properly hedged in the account/Fund using standard hedging techniques; (iv) an IPO/SEO allocation would add too much volatility to an account/Fund, thereby altering the risk profile of the account/Fund; (v) an IPO/SEO allocation would change the portfolio composition weighting in such a way as to corrupt the modeling process for that account/Fund; (vi) the account/Fund is a proprietary account; and/or (vii) the account/Fund has a policy of not engaging in a specific or all IPO/SEOs. Benchmark driven accounts/Funds would normally be precluded from participation in an IPO/SEO allocation because of one or a combination of items (ii), (iii), (iv), and/or (v) above. Deviations from this policy must be approved by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser’s CCO or designee in advance of a purchase.

As with IPOs and SEOs, convertible security new issues will not be allocated to accounts/Funds that do not trade convertible securities and where a particular convertible security is inconsistent with the account/Fund’s investment objective (e.g. convertible security may be illiquid or of a small deal size).

New issue convertible securities will be allocated in a fair manner for eligible accounts/Funds that avoids the number of odd-lots held by particular accounts/Funds. Desired appetites for new issue convertible securities may vary among account/Funds and are influenced by the following: if the issuance is inconsistent with the investment objectives of the account/Fund; if the issuance can not be properly hedged in the account/Fund using standard hedging techniques; if the issuance adds too much volatility to the account/Fund, thereby altering the risk profile of the account/Fund; and/or if the issuance changes the account/Fund’s composition and position weighting in such a way as to corrupt the desired characteristics of that account/Fund.

 

40


In placing orders for portfolio securities of the Funds, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are required to give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser each will consider the research and investment services provided by brokers or dealers who effect, or are parties to, portfolio transactions of the Funds or the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s (as applicable) other clients. Such research and investment services are those which brokerage houses customarily provide to institutional investors and include statistical and economic data and research reports on particular companies and industries. Such services are used by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser in connection with all of their investment activities, and some of such services obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for the Funds may be used in managing other investment accounts. Conversely, brokers furnishing such services may be selected for the execution of transactions of such other accounts, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser in providing investment management for the Funds. Commission rates are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker based on the quality and quantity of execution services provided by the broker in light of generally prevailing rates. The Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s policy is to pay higher commissions to brokers for particular transactions than might be charged if a different broker had been selected on occasions when, in the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s opinion (as applicable), this policy furthers the objective of obtaining the most favorable price and execution. In addition, the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are authorized to pay higher commissions on brokerage transactions for the Funds to brokers in order to secure research and investment services described above, subject to review by the Board of Trustees from time to time as to the extent and continuation of the practice. The allocation of orders among brokers and the commission rates paid are reviewed periodically by the Board of Trustees.

The following table shows the dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid to brokers for providing third party research services and the approximate dollar amount of the transactions involved for the period ended December 31, 2010. The provision of third party research services was not necessarily a factor in the placement of all brokerage business with such brokers.

 

Funds

       Brokerage
Commissions
          Amount of
Transactions
Involved
 

AQR Global Equity Fund

     $ 59,985        $ 539,516,899   

AQR International Equity Fund

     $ 169,953        $ 849,087,269   

AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund

     $ 1,985,940        $ 3,928,252,772   

AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund1

     $ 67,388        $ 6,603,038,425   

AQR Risk Parity Fund2

     $ 747        $ 25,812,627   

AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund3

       N/A          N/A   

AQR Momentum Fund

     $ 1,637        $ 192,629,719   

AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund

     $ 1,251        $ 134,677,722   

AQR International Momentum Fund

     $ 30,654        $ 214,983,021   

 

1 For the period January 6, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
2 For the period September 30, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
3 The Fund paid no brokerage commissions during the period because the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

The value of the AQR Global Equity Fund’s aggregate holdings of the securities of its regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the Investment Company Act) if any portion of such holdings were purchased during the period ended December 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

41


Regular Broker-Dealer   Debt (D)/Equity (E)       Aggregate Holdings (000’s)      

Bank of America Corp.

  E   $ 2,495                   

Barclays Capital, Inc.

  E   $ 612                   

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

  E   $ 2,192                   

Deutsche Bank AG

  E   $ 900                   

Goldman Sachs & Co., Inc.

  E   $ 1,750                   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  E   $ 3,554                   

Morgan Stanley

  E   $ 229                   

RBS-Royal Bank of Scotland

  E   $ 592                   

The value of the AQR International Equity Fund’s aggregate holdings of the securities of its regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the Investment Company Act) if any portion of such holdings were purchased during the period ended December 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

Regular Broker-Dealer

  Debt (D)/Equity (E)       Aggregate Holdings (000’s)      

Barclays Capital, Inc.

  E   $ 1,352                   

Deutsche Bank AG

  E   $ 1,068                   

RBS-Royal Bank of Scotland

  E   $ 908                   

The value of the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund’s aggregate holdings of the securities of its regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the Investment Company Act) if any portion of such holdings were purchased during the period ended December 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

Regular Broker-Dealer

  Debt (D)/Equity (E)       Aggregate Holdings (000’s)      

Jefferies & Co., Inc.

  E   $ 36                   

Jefferies & Co., Inc

  D   $ 105                   

Morgan Stanley

  E   $ 49                   

RBS-Royal Bank of Scotland

  D   $ 1,711                   

ORGANIZATION OF THE TRUST AND

A DESCRIPTION OF THE SHARES

The Trust was established on September 4, 2008 as a Delaware statutory trust and is authorized to issue an unlimited number of par shares of beneficial interest which may be issued in any number of series and classes. The Trust currently has fourteen series. On February 23, 2011 the Board of Trustee approved the creation of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund. Each Fund, except for the AQR Momentum Fund, the AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and the AQR International Momentum Fund, offers Class I and Class N shares. The AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund, AQR International Small Cap Fund and AQR Emerging Markets Fund also offer Class Y shares. The AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and the AQR International Momentum Fund offer only Class L Shares. All shares of each Fund have equal voting rights and each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held and will vote on the election of Trustees and any other matter submitted to a shareholder vote. The Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trust will call such special meetings of shareholders as may be required under the 1940 Act (e.g., to approve a new investment advisory agreement or to change the fundamental investment policies) or by the Declaration of Trust. A meeting of shareholders shall, however, be called by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares of a Fund. The Fund will assist shareholders wishing to communicate with one another for the purpose of requesting such a meeting. Shares of each Fund will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable and have no preemptive or conversion rights. Each share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the relevant Fund and in the net assets of such Fund on liquidation or dissolution after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities.

 

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The following is a list of a shareholders of each Fund who owned (beneficially or of record) 5% or more of a class of a Fund’s shares as of April 1, 2011.

 

Name and Address

 

Fund and Class

 

Percentage

Ownership

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class N   8.13%

Robert J. Krail

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class N   8.45%

David G. Kabiller

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class N   10.14%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class N   11.62%

John M. Liew

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class N   13.52%

Clifford S. Asness

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class N   35.49%

Robert J. Krail

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class I   7.57%

David G. Kabiller

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class I   9.09%

John M. Liew

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class I   12.11%

Clifford S. Asness

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class I   31.80%

E*TRADE

P.O. Box 484

Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class I   37.68%

S CA Edison Co Retirement Plan Trust

2244 Walnut Grove Ave

Rosemead, CA 91770

  AQR Global Equity Fund – Class Y   19.76%

 

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Name and Address

  

Fund and Class

  

Percentage
Ownership

Trustees of CSC Computer Sciences

c/o CSC

Royal Pavilion Wellesley Road

Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1PZ,

England

   AQR Global Equity Fund – Class Y    24.27%

PG&E Corp Retirement Master Trust

One Market Street, Spear Tower

San Francisco, CA 94105

   AQR Global Equity Fund – Class Y    49.48%

Robert J. Krail

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class N    9.48%

David G. Kabiller

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class N    11.37%

John M. Liew

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class N    15.16%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class N    15.49%

Clifford S. Asness

Two Greenwich Plz, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class N    39.80%

NFS

Gift Annuity Pool

1515 N Madison Ave

Anderson IN 46011-3453

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class I    14.11%

Dingle & Co

PO Box 75000 M/C #3446

Detroit, MI

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class I    19.96%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class I    46.62%

Retirement Plan For Employees of Avista Corp.

1411 E. Mission Ave

Spokane, WA 99220

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class Y    5.34%

Sauer-Danfoss Consolidated Retirement

2800 E. 13th Street

Ames, IA 50010

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class Y    6.80%

 

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Name and Address

  

Fund and Class

  

Percentage
Ownership

Sonoco Pension Plan

1 North Second Street

Hartsville, SC 29550

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class Y    17.91%

US Bank

PO BOX 1787

Milwaukee, WI 53201

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class Y    20.08%

MAC & CO

PO BOX 3198

525 William Penn Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15230-3198

   AQR International Equity Fund – Class Y    45.16%

TD Ameritrade Inc.

PO BOX 2226

Omaha, NE 68103-2226

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage – Class N    9.36%

IRA FBO Chareles P Al

P.O. Box 2052

Jersey City, NJ 07303-9998

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage – Class N    12.98%

Genworth Financial Trust Company

3200 N Central Ave, 7th Floor

Phoenix, AZ 85012

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage – Class N    18.08%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage– Class N    21.08%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage – Class N    24.42%

LPL Financial

9785 Towne Centre Drive

San Diego CA 92121 1968

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage – Class I    9.88%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage – Class I    32.91%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund – Class I    37.80%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Managed Futures Strategy – Class N    13.77%

 

45


Name and Address

  

Fund and Class

  

Percentage
                Ownership                 

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Managed Futures Strategy – Class N    23.37%

Genworth Financial Trust Company

3200 N Central Ave, 7th Floor

Phoenix, AZ 85012

   AQR Managed Futures Strategy – Class N    41.01%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Managed Futures Strategy – Class I    29.37%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Managed Futures Strategy – Class I    49.88%

John F. Harbal I

P.O. Box 3385

Cincinnati, OH 45263

   AQR Risk Parity Fund – Class N    10.10%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Risk Parity Fund – Class N    12.92%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Risk Parity Fund – Class N    17.76%

TR U/A Anne S.

P.O. Box 3385

Cincinnati OH, 45263

   AQR Risk Parity Fund – Class N    37.10%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Risk Parity Fund – Class I    42.21%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Risk Parity Fund – Class I    48.26%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Momentum Fund – Class L    9.49%

TD Ameritrade Inc.

PO BOX 2226

Omaha, NE 68103-2226

   AQR Momentum Fund – Class L    10.34%

 

46


Name and Address

  

Fund and Class

  

Percentage
                Ownership                 

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Momentum Fund – Class L    75.64%

TD Ameritrade Inc.

PO BOX 2226

Omaha, NE 68103-2226

   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund – Class L    10.63%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund – Class L    13.04%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund – Class L    72.97%

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   AQR International Momentum Fund –Class L    6.60%

TD Ameritrade Inc.

PO BOX 2226

Omaha, NE 68103-2226

   AQR International Momentum Fund –Class L    10.94%

Charles Schwab & Co Inc.

ATTN: Mutual Funds

101 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   AQR International Momentum Fund –Class L    79.27%

TAXATION

Taxation of the Funds

Each Fund intends to qualify annually and to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. To qualify as a regulated investment company, each Fund must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains, and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of that Fund’s assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of that Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in (1) the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies), or (2) the securities (other than securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers of which a Fund holds 20% or more of the voting stock in the same or similar or related trades or businesses, or (3) the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest, income inclusions from wholly-owned subsidiaries and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses) each taxable year.

 

47


The U.S. Treasury is authorized to issue regulations providing that foreign currency gains that are not directly related to a Fund’s principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities) will be excluded from the income which qualifies for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. To date, however, no such regulations have been issued.

Certain of a Fund’s investments in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) may be considered qualified publicly traded partnerships and, therefore, the extent to which a Fund may invest in MLPs is limited by that Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Fund investments in partnerships, including in qualified publicly traded partnerships, may result in a Fund’s being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

As regulated investment companies, the Funds generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their investment company taxable income and net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, that they distribute to shareholders. The Funds intend to distribute to their shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of their investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, each Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at least 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that was not distributed or taxed to the Fund during those years. A distribution will be treated as paid December 31 of the current calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by such Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. To prevent application of the excise tax, each Fund currently intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.

Distributions

Dividends paid out of a Fund’s investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gains) will be taxable to a U.S. shareholder as ordinary income. If a portion of a Fund’s income consists of dividends paid by corporations, a portion of the dividends paid by such Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations and the maximum 15% tax rate on qualified dividends for individuals, provided that the Fund and shareholders satisfy applicable holding period requirements. It is not expected that any portion of a Fund’s distributions that will qualify for these benefits will be significant. The favorable treatment of qualified dividends for individuals is scheduled to expire after 2012. Distributions of net capital gains, if any, reported as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), regardless of how long the shareholder has held the relevant Fund’s shares, and are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares, rather than cash, generally will have a cost basis in each such share equal to the net asset value of a share of the relevant Fund on the reinvestment date.

Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal income tax status of distributions, and shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares will receive a report as to the net asset value of those shares. Any distributions received in the form of additional shares will be taxed as if received in cash.

Each Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income, and any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers). However, if a Fund retains for investment an amount equal to all or a portion of its net long-term capital gains in excess of its net short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers), it will be subject to a corporate tax (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. In that event, the Fund will designate such retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (a) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount, (b) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the 35% tax paid by the fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent their credits exceed their liabilities, if any, and (c) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income. Organizations or persons not subject to U.S. federal income tax on such capital gains will be entitled to a refund of their pro rata share of such taxes paid by the fund upon timely filing of appropriate returns or claims for refund with the IRS.

A distribution of an amount in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital, which is applied against and reduces the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent that the amount of any

 

48


such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares.

Beginning in 2013, a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax will be imposed on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gain, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly), and of estates and trusts.

Sale of Shares

Upon the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund, a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term, generally depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the shares. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after disposition of the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares of a Fund held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long- term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net capital gains received by the shareholder with respect to such shares. Individual taxpayers may generally offset capital losses against capital gains and also against up to $3,000 of ordinary income, with any excess carried over to future years. Corporations may generally offset capital losses against capital gains and the excess may be carried to certain other years.

The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (discussed above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of Fund shares.

Original Issue Discount Securities

Investments by a Fund in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to such Fund equal to a portion of the excess of the face value of the securities over their issue price (the “original issue discount”) each year that the securities are held, even though such Fund receives no cash interest payments. This income is included in determining the amount of income which that Fund must distribute to maintain its status as a regulated investment company and to avoid the payment of federal income tax and the 4% excise tax. In addition, if a Fund invests in certain high yield original issue discount securities issued by corporations, a portion of the original issue discount accruing on any such obligation may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations. In such event, dividends of investment company taxable income received from such Fund by its corporate shareholders, to the extent attributable to such portion of accrued original issue discount, may be eligible for this deduction for dividends received by corporations if so designated by that Fund in a written notice to shareholders.

Market Discount Bonds

Gains derived by a Fund from the disposition of any market discount bonds (i.e., bonds purchased other than at original issue, where the face value of the bonds exceeds their purchase price) held by such Fund will be taxed as ordinary income to the extent of the accrued market discount of the bonds, unless such Fund elects to include the market discount in income as it accrues.

Futures, Options and Hedging Transactions

The taxation of equity options and over-the-counter options on debt securities is governed by Code section 1234. Pursuant to Code section 1234, the premium received by a Fund for selling a put or call option is not included in income at the time of receipt. If the option expires, the premium is short-term capital gain to a Fund. If a Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its position and the premium it received is short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by a Fund is exercised, thereby requiring such Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of such security and any resulting gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term or short-term depending upon the holding period of the security. With respect to a put or call option that is purchased by a Fund, if the option is sold, any resulting gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, and will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss is a capital loss and is long-term or short-term depending upon the holding period of the option. If the option is exercised, the cost of the option, in the case of a call option, is added to the basis of the purchased security and, in the case of a put option, reduces the amount realized on the underlying security in determining gain or loss.

Certain U.S. exchange-traded options, futures contracts and certain forward currency contracts in which the Funds may invest are “section 1256 contracts.” Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses; however, foreign currency gains or losses (as discussed below) arising from certain section 1256 contracts may be treated as ordinary income or loss. Also, section 1256 contracts held by a Fund or a wholly-owned subsidiary of a Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, generally, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on October 31 of each year) are “marked-to-market” (that is, treated as sold at fair market value), resulting in unrealized gains or losses being treated as though they were realized.

Generally, the hedging transactions undertaken by the Funds may result in “straddles” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character of gains (or losses) realized by a Fund. In addition, losses realized by a Fund on positions that are part of a straddle may be deferred under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in calculating the taxable income

 

49


for the taxable year in which the losses are realized. Because only a few regulations implementing the straddle rules have been promulgated, the tax consequences to a Fund of engaging in hedging transactions are not entirely clear. Hedging transactions may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by a Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders.

The Funds may make one or more of the elections available under the Code, which are applicable to straddles. If a Fund makes any of the elections, the amount, character and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions will be determined under rules that vary according to the election(s) made. The rules applicable under certain of the elections may operate to accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions.

Because the straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions, the amount which may be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to them as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased as compared to a fund that did not engage in such hedging transactions.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, a Fund may recognize gain (but not loss) from a constructive sale of certain “appreciated financial positions” if the Fund enters into a short sale, offsetting notional principal contract, futures or forward contract transaction with respect to the appreciated position or substantially identical property. Appreciated financial positions subject to this constructive sale treatment are interests (including options, futures and forward contracts and short sales) in stock, partnership interests, certain actively traded trust instruments and certain debt instruments. Constructive sale treatment does not apply to certain transactions closed in the 90-day period ending with the close of the taxable year, if certain conditions are met.

Currency Fluctuations - “Section 988” Gains or Losses

Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time a Fund accrues receivables or liabilities denominated in foreign currency and the time such Fund actually collects such receivables, or pays such liabilities, generally are treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, and on disposition of certain options, futures and foreign currency contracts, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as “section 988” gains or losses, may increase or decrease the amount of a Fund’s investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.

Short Sales

Unless certain constructive sale rules (discussed more fully above) apply, a Fund will not realize gain or loss on a short sale of a security until it closes the transaction by delivering the borrowed security to the lender. All or a portion of any gain arising from a short sale may be treated as short-term capital gain, regardless of the period for which a Fund held the security used to close the short sale. In addition, a Fund’s holding period for any security which is substantially identical to that which is sold short may be reduced or eliminated as a result of the short sale. In many cases, as described more fully under “Futures, Options and Hedging Transactions” above, a Fund is required to recognize gain (but not loss) upon entering into a short sale with respect to an appreciated security that such Fund owns, as though such Fund constructively sold the security at the time of entering into the short sale. Similarly, if a Fund enters into a short sale of property that becomes substantially worthless, the Fund will recognize gain at that time as though it had closed the short sale. Future Treasury regulations may apply similar treatment to other transactions with respect to property that becomes substantially worthless.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

If a Fund invests in stock of certain passive foreign investment companies, such Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a portion of any “excess distribution” with respect to, or gain from the disposition of, such stock. The tax would be determined by allocating such distribution or gain ratably to each of such Fund’s holding period for the stock. The distribution or gain so allocated to any taxable year of a Fund, other than the taxable year of the excess distribution or disposition, would be taxed to such Fund at the highest ordinary income tax rate in effect for such year, and the tax would be further increased by an interest charge to reflect the value of the tax deferral deemed to have resulted from the ownership of the foreign company’s stock. Any amount of distribution or gain allocated to the taxable year of the distribution or disposition would be included in such Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, would not be taxable to that Fund to the extent distributed by such Fund as a dividend to its shareholders.

A Fund may be able to make an election, in lieu of being taxable in the manner described above, to include annually in income its pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the passive foreign investment company, regardless of whether it actually received any distributions from the foreign company. These amounts would be included in a Fund’s investment company taxable income and net capital gain which, to the extent distributed by such Fund as ordinary or capital gain dividends, as the case may be, would not be taxable to that Fund. In order to make this election, such Fund would be required to obtain certain annual information from the foreign investment companies in which it invests, which in many cases may be difficult to obtain. Alternatively, a Fund may be able to elect to mark to market its passive foreign investment company stock, resulting in the stock being treated as sold at fair

 

50


market value on the last business day of each tax year. Any resulting gain would be reported as ordinary income; any resulting loss and any loss from an actual disposition of the stock would be reported as ordinary loss to the extent of any net marked-to-market gains reported in prior years.

Foreign Withholding Taxes

Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to elect to “pass-through” to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his taxable income or to use it (subject to limitations) as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year if the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will “pass-through” for that year.

Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of a Fund’s income will flow through to the Fund’s shareholders. With respect to such Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated debt securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Various other limitations, including a minimum holding period requirement, apply to limit the credit and/or deduction for foreign taxes for purposes of regular U.S. federal tax and/or alternative minimum tax.

Backup Withholding

A Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax, currently at the rate of 28% of all taxable distributions payable to shareholders who fail to provide such Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding. Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

Foreign Shareholders

U.S. taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation or foreign partnership (“foreign shareholder”) depends on whether the income of a Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder.

Income Not Effectively Connected. If the income from the Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the foreign shareholder, distributions of investment company taxable income and short-term capital gains will be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate, except in the case of any excess inclusion income allocated to the shareholder), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions.

Distributions of long-term capital gains and any amounts retained by a Fund which are reported as undistributed long-term capital gains will not be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) unless the foreign shareholder is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements. However, this 30% tax on capital gains of nonresident alien individuals who are physically present in the United States for more than the 182 day period only applies in exceptional cases because any individual present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year is generally treated as a resident for U.S. income tax purposes; in that case, he or she would be subject to U.S. income tax on his or her worldwide income at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30% U.S. tax. In the case of a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, a Fund may be required to withhold U.S. income tax at a rate of 30% of distributions of net capital gains unless the foreign shareholder certifies his or her non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption. See “Backup Withholding,” above. If a foreign shareholder is a nonresident alien individual, any gain such shareholder realizes upon the sale or exchange of such shareholder’s shares of a Fund in the United States will ordinarily be exempt from U.S. tax unless (i) the gain is U.S. source income and such shareholder is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements, or is otherwise considered to be a resident alien of the United States, or (ii) at any time during the shorter of the period during which the foreign shareholder held shares of a Fund and the five year period ending on the date of the disposition of those shares, such Fund was a “U.S. real property holding corporation” and the foreign shareholder held more than 5% of the shares of that Fund, in which event the gain would be taxed in the

 

51


same manner as for a U.S. shareholder, as discussed above, and a 10% U.S. withholding tax would be imposed on the amount realized on the disposition of such shares to be credited against the foreign shareholder’s U.S. income tax liability on such disposition. A corporation is a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the fair market value of such interests plus its interests in real property located outside the United States plus any other assets used or held for use in a business. In the case of a Fund, U.S. real property interests include interests in stock in U.S. real property holding corporations and certain participating debt securities.

The Internal Revenue Code will impose a U.S. withholding tax of 30% on payments (including gross proceeds) that are attributable to certain U.S. investments and made to non-U.S. entities. The Fund will be required to withhold with respect to non-U.S. entities unless such entity complies with certain reporting requirements to the IRS in respect of such shareholder’s own direct and indirect U.S. investors, effective beginning with payments made after December 31, 2012. Affected shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these requirements on their own investment in the Fund.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, properly reported dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, a Fund’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which a Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of a Fund’s net short-term capital gain over a Fund’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, a Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund reports the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.

In general, U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a non-U.S. shareholder in respect of any distributions of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, exempt-interest dividends, or upon the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund.

Income Effectively Connected. If the income from a Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by a Fund which are designated as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Foreign corporate shareholders may also be subject to the branch profits tax imposed by the Code.

The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty might differ from those described herein. Foreign shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.

Other Taxation

Fund shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their Fund distributions. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.

COUNSEL AND INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Legal matters in connection with the issuance of the shares of each Fund offered hereby will be passed on by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019.

[        ],has been appointed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not an offering of the securities herein described in any state in which such offering may not be lawfully made. No salesman, dealer, or other person is authorized to give any information or make any representation other than those contained in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information.

 

52


APPENDIX A

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. General

Investment Advisers Act of 1940 Rule 206(4)-6 imposes a number of requirements on investment advisers that have voting authority with respect to securities held in their clients’ accounts. The SEC states that the duty of care requires an adviser with proxy voting authority to monitor corporate actions and to vote the proxies. To satisfy its duty of loyalty, an adviser must cast the proxy votes in a manner consistent with the best interests of its clients, and must never put the adviser’s own interests above those of its clients.

These written policies and procedures are designed to reasonably ensure that AQR votes proxies in the best interest of clients over whom AQR has voting authority; and describes how AQR addresses material conflicts between its interests and those of its clients with respect to proxy voting.

2. Proxy Guidelines

Generally, AQR will vote based upon the recommendations of ISS Governance Services (“ISS”), an unaffiliated third party corporate governance research service that provides in-depth analyses of shareholder meeting agendas, vote recommendations, recordkeeping and vote disclosure services. AQR has adopted the Proxy Voting Guidelines employed by ISS to vote proxies. Although ISS’ analyses are reviewed and considered in making a final voting decision, AQR will make the ultimate decision. As a matter of policy, the employees, officers, or principals of AQR will not be influenced by outside sources whose interests conflict with the interests of its Clients.

In addition, unless prior approval is obtained from AQR’s CCO the following must be adhered to:

 

  (a) AQR shall not engage in conduct that involves an attempt to change or influence the control of a public company. In addition, all communications regarding proxy issues or corporate actions between companies or their agents, or with fellow shareholders shall be for the sole purpose of expressing and discussing AQR’s concerns for its advisory clients’ interests and not for an attempt to influence or control management.

 

  (b) AQR will not announce its voting intentions and the reasons therefore.

 

  (c) AQR shall not participate in a proxy solicitation or otherwise seek proxy-voting authority from any other public company shareholder.

AQR has the responsibility to process proxies and maintain proxy records pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. Therefore, AQR will attempt to process every vote it receives for all domestic and foreign proxies. However, there may be situations in which AQR cannot vote proxies. For example:

 

   

If the cost of voting a proxy outweighs the benefit of voting, AQR may refrain from processing that vote.

 

   

AQR may not be given enough time to process the vote. For example ISS through no fault of its own, may receive a meeting notice from the company too late, or may be unable to obtain a timely translation of the agenda.

 

   

If AQR has outstanding sell orders or intends to sell, the proxies for those meetings may not be voted in order to facilitate the sale of those securities. Although AQR may hold shares on a company’s record date, should it sell them prior to the company’s meeting date, AQR ultimately may decide not to vote those shares.

 

   

AQR will generally refrain from voting proxies on foreign securities that are subject to share blocking restrictions.

AQR may vote against an agenda item where no further information is provided, particularly in non-U.S. markets. AQR may also enter an “abstain” vote on the election of certain directors from time to time based on individual situations, particularly where AQR is not in favor of electing a director and there is no provision for voting against such director.

If an AQR portfolio manager determines that the interests of clients are best served by voting differently from the ISS recommended vote, approval must be obtained from the CCO or designee. AQR will adhere to the Conflict of Interest (below) section of this policy in all instances where the recommended vote is not taken.

AQR will periodically review the outside party’s voting standards and guidelines to make certain that proxy issues are voted in accordance with the adopted proxy voting guidelines and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

 

53


3. Proxy Procedures

AQR has engaged ISS to assist in the administrative aspects for the voting of proxies. ISS is responsible for coordinating with Clients’ custodians to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the Clients’ portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. To the extent applicable, ISS votes all proxies in accordance with its own proxy voting guidelines (please see Proxy Guidelines above), which have been reviewed and adopted by AQR. The CCO shall supervise the proxy voting process.

Upon request, AQR will furnish a copy of the policies and procedures to the requesting client and information on how the client’s proxies were voted.

4. Conflicts of Interest

Occasions may arise where a person or organization involved in the proxy voting process may have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest may exist, for example, if AQR has a business relationship with (or is actively soliciting business from) either the company soliciting the proxy or a third party that has a material interest in the outcome of a proxy vote or that is actively lobbying for a particular outcome of a proxy vote. Any individual with knowledge of a personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management) relating to a particular referral item shall disclose that conflict to the CCO and otherwise remove him or herself from the proxy voting process. The CCO will review each item referred to by AQR’s investment professionals to determine if a conflict of interest exists and will draft a Conflicts Report for each referral item that (1) describes any conflict of interest; (2) discusses the procedures used to address such conflict of interest; and (3) discloses any contacts from parties outside AQR (other than routine communications from proxy solicitors) with respect to the referral item not otherwise reported in an investment professional’s recommendation. The Conflicts Report will also include written confirmation that any recommendation from an investment professional provided under circumstances where a conflict of interest exists was made solely on the investment merits and without regard to any other consideration.

 

54


PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28.    Exhibits

 

(a)

   (1)    Certificate of Trust as field with the State of Delaware on September 4, 2008.1
   (2)    (i)    Declaration of Trust dated as of September 4, 2008.1
      (ii)    Amended Schedule A to the Declaration of Trust.6
      (iii)    Amended Schedule A to the Declaration of Trust.8
      (iv)    Amended Schedule A to the Declaration of Trust.*

(b)

   Bylaws of the Registrant.1

(c)

   The Trust does not issue Certificates. See Article III, “Meetings of Shareholders,” and Article VIII, “Inspection of Records and Reports” of Registrant’s Bylaws.1 See Article III, “Shares,” and Article V, “Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings” of Declaration of Trust of the Registrant.1

(d)

   (1)    (i)    Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.2
      (ii)    Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.6
      (iv)    Third Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.8
      (v)    Fourth Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.8
      (vi)    Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.8
      (vii)    Amendment to the Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and AQR Capital Management, LLC.*
   (2)    (i) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Registrant, AQR Capital Management, LLC and CNH Partners, LLC.2
      (ii) Amended Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among Registrant, AQR Capital Management, LLC and CNH Partners, LLC.8
   (3)    (i) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among Registrant, AQR Capital Management, LLC and CNH Partners, LLC.*

(e)

   (1)    Distribution Agreement.2
   (2)    Amendment to Distribution Agreement.4
   (3)    Second Amendment to Distribution Agreement.6
   (4)    Third Amendment to Distribution Agreement.8
   (5)    Fourth Amendment to Distribution Agreement.*

(f)

   Not Applicable

(g)

   (1)    (i)    Custody Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.2
      (ii)    Amendment to Custody Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to Custody Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.6
      (iv)    Global Custody Agreement between the AQR Funds and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.8
      (v)    Amendment to Global Custody Agreement between the AQR Funds and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.*
   (2)    (i)    Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.2

 

C-1


      (ii)    Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon .6

(h)

   (1)    (i)    Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.2
      (ii)    Amendment to Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement between AQR Funds and The Bank of New York Mellon.6
      (iv)    Administration Agreement between AQR Funds and J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co.8
      (v)    Amendment One to Administration Agreement between AQR Funds and J.P Morgan Investor Services Co.10
      (vi)    Amendment Two to Administration Agreement between AQR Funds and J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co.*
   (2)    (i)    Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.2
      (ii)    Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.6
      (iv)    Third Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.8
      (v)    Fourth Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.*
   (3)    (i)    Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to Class I, N, and Y shares.2
      (ii)    Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to Class L shares.4
      (iii)    Amendment to Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to Class I, N and Y Shares.8
      (iv)    Second Amendment to Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to Class I, N and Y Shares.8
      (v)    Third Amendment to Shareholder Services Agreement with respect to Class I, N and Y Shares.*
   (4)    (i)    Transfer Agency Interactive Client Services Agreement.4
      (ii)    Amendment to Transfer Agency Interactive Client Services Agreement.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to Transfer Agency Interactive Client Services Agreement.6
      (iv)    Third Amendment to Transfer Agency Interactive Client Services Agreement. 8
      (v)    Fourth Amendment to Transfer Agency Interactive Client Services Agreement. *
   (5)    (i)    Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.2
      (ii)    Amendment to Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.4
      (iii)    Second Amendment to Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.6
      (iv)    Third Amendment to Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.8
      (v)    Fourth Amendment to Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.8
      (vi)    Fifth Amendment to Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.9
      (vii)    Sixth Amendment to Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement Agreement.*

(i)

   (1)    Opinion and Consent of Counsel with respect to the legality of shares being issued of the AQR Global Equity Fund, AQR International Equity Fund and AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund.2
   (2)    Opinion and Consent of Counsel with respect to the legality of shares being issued of the AQR Momentum Fund, AQR Small Cap Momentum Fund and AQR International Momentum Fund.5
   (3)    Opinion and Consent of Counsel with respect to the legality of shares being issued of the AQR Managed Futures Strategy Fund.6

 

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   (4)    Opinion and Consent of Counsel with respect to the legality of shares being issued of the AQR Risk Parity Fund.8
   (5)    Opinion and Consent of Counsel with respect to the legality of shares being issued of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund.*

(j)

   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*

(k)

   Not Applicable.

(l)

   Initial Capital Agreement.2

(m)

   Plan of Distribution.6

(n)

   (i) Third Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan.8
   (ii) Fourth Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan.*

(o)

   Reserved.

(p)

   (1)    Code of Ethics of AQR Funds.2
   (2)    Code of Ethics of AQR Capital Management, LLC and CNH Partners, LLC.2
   (3)    Code of Ethics of ALPS Distributor, Inc.2
      Other Exhibit: Powers of Attorney of Timothy K. Armour, Steven Grenadier and L. Joe Moravy.3
      Power of Attorney of David G. Kabiller7

 

 

1

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s initial Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed September 11, 2008.

2

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed December 17, 2008.

3

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed March 5, 2009.

4

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed May 19, 2009.

5

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed July 9, 2009.

6

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed December 28, 2009.

7

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed April 28, 2010.

8

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed September 28, 2010.

9

   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-153445, filed April 25, 2011.

10

   Filed herewith.

*

   To be filed by amendment.

Item 29.    Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund

No person is controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.

Item 30.    Indemnification

Article VII, Section 2 of the Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

A Trustee, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any person other than the Trust or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee. A Trustee shall not be liable for any act or omission or any conduct whatsoever in his capacity as Trustee, provided that nothing contained herein or in the Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee against any liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee hereunder. No Trustee who has been determined to be an “audit committee financial expert” (for purposes of Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any successor provision thereto) by the Board of Trustees shall be subject to any greater liability or duty of care in discharging such Trustee’s duties and responsibilities by virtue of such determination than is any Trustee who has not been so designated.

Article VII, Section 3 of the Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

 

(a)

For purposes of this Section 3 and Section 5 of this Article VII and any related provisions of the By-laws, “Agent” means any Person who is, was or becomes an employee or other agent of the Trust who is not a Covered Person; “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including appeals); and “liabilities” and “expenses” include, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid

 

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in settlement, fines, penalties and all other liabilities whatsoever.

 

(b) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section, as well as any procedural requirements set forth in the By-Laws:

 

  (i) every person who is, has been, or becomes a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against any and all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with the defense of any Proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee or officer, and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;

 

  (ii) every Person who is, has been, or becomes an Agent of the Trust may, upon due approval of the Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust), be indemnified by the Trust, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any and all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with the defense of any Proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been an Agent, and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;

 

  (iii) every Person who is serving or has served at the request of the Trust as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan (“Other Position”) and who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of alleged acts or omissions while acting within the scope of his or her service in such Other Position, may, upon due approval of the Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust), be indemnified by the Trust, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any and all liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with the defense of any Proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having held such Other Position, and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;

 

(c) Without limitation of the foregoing and subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth in this Section, as well as any procedural requirements set forth in the By-Laws, the Trust shall indemnify each Covered Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceedings, by reason of alleged acts or omissions within the scope of his or her service as a Covered Person, against judgments, fines, penalties, settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually incurred by him in connection with such proceeding to the maximum extent consistent with state law and the 1940 Act.

 

(d) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to any Person who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (i) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office (collectively, “Disabling Conduct”) or (ii) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust.

 

(e) The Trust’s financial obligations arising from the indemnification provided herein or in the By-Laws (i) may be insured by policies maintained by the Trust; (ii) shall be severable; (iii) shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Person may now or hereafter be entitled; and (iv) shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be subject to indemnification as provided in this Section as to acts or omissions that occurred while the Person was indemnified as provided herein and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such Person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Covered Persons, may be entitled, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

 

(f) Expenses of a Person entitled to indemnification hereunder in connection with the defense of any Proceeding of the character described in paragraphs (a) and (b) above may be advanced by the Trust or Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 3; provided, however, that either (i) such Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments, or (iii) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is reason to believe that such Person will be found entitled to indemnification under Section 3.

Article VII, Section 1 of the By-Laws provides as follows:

With respect to any Proceeding disposed of (whether by settlement, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without an adjudication by the court or other body before which the Proceeding was brought, no indemnification shall be provided hereunder or pursuant to the Declaration of Trust to a Trustee, officer, Agent or other Person unless there has been a dismissal of the Proceeding by the court or other body before which it was brought for insufficiency of evidence of any Disabling Conduct with which such Trustee, officer, Agent or other Person has been charged or a determination that such Trustee, officer, Agent or other Person did not engage in Disabling Conduct:

 

C-4


(i) by the court or other body before which the Proceeding was brought;

 

(ii) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the Proceeding based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or

 

(iii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry).

Item 31.    Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

The Registrant’s investment adviser, AQR Capital Management, LLC (“Adviser”) is a Delaware limited liability company that serves as investment adviser to the AQR Funds and provides investment supervisory services. Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company. Additional information as to Adviser and its management is included in Adviser’s Form ADV filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (File No. 801-55543), which is incorporated herein by reference and sets forth the officers and members of Adviser and information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by Adviser and such officers and directors during the past two years.

The Registrant’s sub-adviser, CNH Partners, LLC (“Sub-Adviser”) is a Delaware limited liability company that serves as investment sub-adviser to AQR Funds with respect to the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund and certain sub-strategies of the AQR Multi-Strategy Alternative Fund. Additional information as to Sub-Adviser and the management of Sub-Adviser is included in Sub-Advisers Form ADV filed with the SEC (File No. 801-60678), which is incorporated herein by reference and sets forth the officers and members of Sub-Adviser and information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by Sub-Adviser and such officers and members during the past two years.

Item 32.    Principal Underwriters

 

(a)   ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following investment companies: ALPS ETF Trust, ALPS Variable Insurance Trust, Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc., AQR Funds, BBH Funds Trust, BLDRS Index Funds Trust, Caldwell & Orkin Funds, Inc., Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, Cook & Bynum Funds Trust, CornerCap Group of Funds, CRM Mutual Fund Trust, Cullen Funds, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust, EGA Global Shares Trust, Financial Investors Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust, Firsthand Funds, Forward Funds, GLG Investment Series Trust, Grail Advisors ETF Trust, Heartland Group, Inc., Henssler Funds, Inc., Holland Balanced Fund, IndexIQ Trust, IndexIQ ETF Trust, Laudus Trust, Laudus Institutional Trust, Milestone Funds, MTB Group of Funds, Oak Associates Funds, Pax World Series Trust I, PAX World Funds Trust II, PowerShares QQQ 100 Trust Series 1, River North Funds, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust, Select Sector SPDR Trust, Stonebridge Funds, Inc., Stone Harbor Investment Funds, Transparent Value Trust, TDX Independence Funds, Inc., Wasatch Funds, WesMark Funds, Westcore Trust, Williams Capital Liquid Assets Fund and Wisdom Tree Trust.
(b)   To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of ALPS Distributors, Inc., are as follows:

 

    

Name*

  

Position with Underwriter

  

Positions with Fund

  Edmund J. Burke    Director    None
  Spencer Hoffman    Director    None
  Thomas A. Carter    President, Director    None
  Jeremy O. May    Executive Vice President, Director    None
  John C. Donaldson    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer    None
  Diana M. Adams    Senior Vice President, Controller, Treasurer    None
  Kevin J. Ireland    Senior Vice President, Director of Institutional Sales    None
  Mark R. Kiniry    Senior Vice President, National Sales Director-Investments    None
  Bradley J. Swenson    Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer    None
  Robert J. Szydlowski    Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer    None
  Tané T. Tyler    Senior Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel    None
  Erin Douglas    Vice President, Senior Associate Counsel    None
  David T. Buhler    Vice President, Associate Counsel    None
  JoEllen Legg    Vice President, Associate Counsel    None
  Paul F. Leone    Vice President, Assistant General Counsel    None

 

C-5


  Steven Price    Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer    None
  James Stegall    Vice President, Institutional Sales Manager    None

 

 

* The principal business address for each of the above directors and executive officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.

 

(c) Not applicable.

Item 33.    Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained at the offices of the: (a) Registrant; (b) Investment Adviser; (c) Sub-Adviser; (d) Principal Underwriter; (e) Transfer Agent; (f) Administrator and Custodian. The address of each is as follows:

 

(a) Registrant

AQR Funds

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

 

(b) Investment Adviser

AQR Capital Management, LLC

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

 

(c) Sub-Adviser

CNH Partners, LLC

Two Greenwich Plaza, 1st Floor

Greenwich, CT 06830

 

(d) Principal Underwriter

ALPS Distributors, Inc.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, CO 80203

 

(e) Transfer Agent

ALPS Fund Services, Inc.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, CO 80203

 

(f) Administrator and Custodian

With respect to custodial services:

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, National Association

1 Chase Manhattan Plaza

New York, NY 10005

With respect to administrative services:

J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co.

One Beacon Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Item 34.    Management Services

Not Applicable.

Item 35.    Undertakings

Not Applicable.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Greenwich, Connecticut, on the 3rd day of May, 2011.

 

AQR Funds

By  

/S/ MARCO HANIG

 

Marco Hanig

President

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

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ MARCO HANIG

(Marco Hanig)

  

Marco Hanig

President

(Principal Executive Officer)

  May 3, 2011

/S/ NIR MESSAFI

Nir Messafi

  

Nir Messafi

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  May 3, 2011

*

David Kabiller

  

David Kabiller

Trustee

 

*

(Timothy K. Armour)

  

Timothy K. Armour

Trustee

 

*

(Steven Grenadier)

  

Steven Grenadier

Trustee

 

*

(L. Joe Moravy)

  

L. Joe Moravy

Trustee

 
*By:  

/S/ MARCO HANIG

Marco Hanig

Attorney-in-fact for each Trustee

     May 3, 2011

 

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INDEX

 

Item
Number

  

Item

(h)(1)(v)    Amendment One to Administration Agreement between AQR Funds and J.P Morgan Investor Services Co.