485APOS 1 schnr-tpm_485a.htm POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT schnr-tpm_485a.htm

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2008
 
File Nos. 333-62298 and 811-10401
 
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.   92    
 [X]
       
    AND/OR
       
    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
 [X]
    Amendment No.    94       
 
 
TRUST FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
(414) 765-5348
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
 
Kristin M. Cuene, Esq.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 2nd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
Copies to:
 
Carol A. Gehl, Esq.
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
780 North Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(414) 273-3500

As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
(Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering)
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
 
[   ]                      immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b).
[   ]                      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.
 
 

 
Subject to completion July 9, 2008
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 becomes effective.  This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.



[LOGO]


Schooner Growth and Income Fund




Prospectus

__________, 2008


Class A Shares

Class C Shares

Class I Shares








The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 

 
 
Schooner Growth and Income Fund
a series of Trust for Professional Managers (the “Trust”)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

INVESTMENTS, RISKS AND PERFORMANCE
3
   
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
3
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
3
PRINCIPAL RISKS
5
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
9
PERFORMANCE
10
FEES AND EXPENSES
10
   
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
11
   
THE ADVISOR
11
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
11
   
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
12
   
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
12
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
13
SHARE PRICE
15
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
16
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
19
REDEMPTION FEES
21
TOOLS TO COMBAT FREQUENT TRANSACTIONS
22
OTHER FUND POLICIES
23
12b-1 FEE
23
   
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
24
   
DISTRIBUTIONS
24
TAX CONSEQUENCES
24
   
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
25
 

Schooner Investment Group, LLC (the “Advisor”) is the investment advisor for the Schooner Growth and Income Fund (the “Fund”) and is located at Radnor Financial Center, 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, STE F-200, Radnor, PA 19087.

 
 


 
Investments, Risks and Performance

Investment Objective
The Fund’s primary investment objective is long-term capital appreciation with the generation of moderate current income.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in a diversified portfolio of equity, convertible securities and single issuer equity call option securities of U.S. companies with large market capitalizations. The Fund considers companies with large market capitalizations (“large-cap companies”) to be those companies with market capitalizations of $5 billion or more. The Fund’s investment strategy consists of a three tiered approach, including:

1)   
manage an equity portfolio of  U.S. large cap companies;
2)   
sell out-of-the-money single issuer call options against long equity positions;
3)   
selectively purchase U.S. convertible securities.

The Fund attempts to keep a consistent balance between risk and reward over the course of different market cycles and volatility regimes through various combinations of stocks, convertible securities, and writing (selling) single issuer equity call options to achieve what the Advisor believes to be an appropriate blend for the current market. The stock and option component of the overall investment strategy is often referred to as a “ buy-write” strategy (also called a “covered call” strategy), in which the Advisor writes (sells) a call option contract while at the same time owning an equivalent number of shares of the underlying stock.  The stock is held in the same brokerage account from which the Advisor writes the call, and thus fully collateralizes, or “covers,” the obligation conveyed by writing a call option contract.
 
As the market environment changes, the Fund’s portfolio securities may change in an attempt to achieve a relatively consistent risk level over time. At some points in a market cycle, one type of security may make up a substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio, while at other times certain securities may have minimal or no representation, depending on market conditions. The average term to maturity of the convertible securities purchased by the Fund will typically range from two to ten years. The Fund normally invests in the common stocks of approximately 50 to 75 large-cap companies which the Advisor believe have a sustainable competitive advantage. The Advisor uses an intensive qualitative and quantitative research process to attempt to identify companies that, in the view of Advisor, have the potential to generate a consistent and sustainable high return on capital and have strong growth prospects.
 
The Fund’s investment strategy suggests the sale of a security if:

• the aggregate weight of the security is in excess of 5% of the Fund’s assets;
• the security is deemed to be overvalued by the Advisor;
• the security has deteriorating fundamentals; or
• a more attractive investment opportunity exists.

In order to enhance long-term performance and reduce portfolio volatility, the Fund may invest in preferred stock, various types of options or futures contracts, as well as debt securities and bonds, including zero coupon and high yield bonds (“junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest in other investment companies or exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), warrants, restricted securities, U.S. government agency obligations and securities and, occasionally,  engage in short sales of securities. Moreover, the Fund may lend a limited percentage of its portfolio securities and undertake limited borrowing in order to leverage the Fund’s assets.
 
 
3


 
Additional information regarding the specific investment techniques the Fund may use is included in the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) and includes the following principal strategies:

Equity Investments
The Fund will invest in exchange-traded and over-the-counter common and preferred stocks, warrants and rights. An investment in a company’s equity securities represents a proportionate ownership interest in that company. Compared with other asset classes, equity investments have a greater potential for gain and are subject to greater fluctuations in market value.

Call Options
The Fund will write call options with strike prices and expiration dates designed to maximize the investment objective for each underlying equity. The writing of call options is intended to reduce the volatility of the portfolio and to earn premium income.  A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to purchase a security at a specified price (the exercise price) at any time until a certain date (the expiration date).  A written call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying security subject to the call option at all times during the option period.

Convertible Securities
Convertible securities include debt obligations and preferred stock of the company issuing the security, which may be exchanged for a predetermined price (the conversion price) into the company’s common stock. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar quality. Certain convertible debt securities include a “put option,” which entitles the Fund to sell the security to the company before maturity at a stated price, which may represent a premium over the stated principal amount of the debt security. Conversely, many convertible securities are issued with a “call” feature that allows the security’s issuer to choose when to redeem the security. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party at a time that may be unfavorable to the Fund.  The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the company and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible’s investment value.  The convertible security’s underlying stock volatility greatly determines overall security value.
 
Debt Securities (Including High Yield Fixed-Income Securities)
The Fund may invest in convertible and non-convertible fixed-income securities, including up to 30% of net assets in high yield fixed-income securities, also known as junk bonds.  Junk bonds are securities rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or securities that are not rated but are considered by the Advisor to be of similar quality. The Fund may not acquire debt securities that are rated lower than C by S&P or Moody’s. If a debt security were downgraded to below a C rating subsequent to the Fund’s investment in the security, the Advisor would review the investment to consider the downgrading, as well as other factors, and determine what action to take in the best interest of shareholders. See the SAI for additional information on the rating methodology used for debt securities.

Securities Lending
The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers and banks in order to generate additional income for the Fund. Any such loan must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by the Fund. In the event of bankruptcy or other default of a borrower of portfolio securities, a Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the loan collateral or recovering the loaned securities and losses. In an effort to reduce these risks, the Fund’s securities lending agent monitor, and reports to the Advisor on the creditworthiness of the firms to which the Fund lends securities., The Fund may engage in securities lending  in accordance with regulatory restrictions.
 
 
4


 
Portfolio Turnover Rate. The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate indicates changes in its portfolio investments.  The Advisor will sell a security when appropriate and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies, regardless of the effect on the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate.  Buying and selling securities generally involves some expense to the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and other transaction costs.  To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred by the Fund.  The Fund cannot accurately predict its future annual portfolio turnover rate, but it expects it to be approximately 250%. This high turnover ratio is attributable in part to the Fund’s investment strategy of optimal use of options and convertible securities.  Portfolio turnover may vary substantially from year to year since portfolio adjustments are made when conditions affecting relevant markets, particular industries or individual issuers warrant such action.  In addition, portfolio turnover may also be affected by sales of portfolio securities necessary to meet cash requirements for redemptions of shares.

Temporary or Cash Investments.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will remain fully invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies as noted above.  The Fund, however, may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by making short-term investments in cash, cash equivalents, and high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions.  This may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objectives during that period.

For longer periods of time, the Fund may hold a substantial cash position.  If the market advances during periods when the Fund is holding a large cash position, the Fund may not participate to the extent it would have if the Fund had been more fully invested.  To the extent that the Fund uses a money market fund for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s advisory fees and operational expenses.

Changes in Investment Objective and Strategies.  The investment objective, strategies and policies described above may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders upon 30 days’ written notice to shareholders if approved by the Board of Trustees.
 
Principal Risks
The Fund cannot assure investors that it will achieve its investment objective.  An investment in the Fund should be considered a long-term investment.  The Fund is not intended to meet investors’ short-term financial needs or to provide a complete or balanced investment program.  Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider your own investment goals, the amount of time you are willing to invest your money in the Fund and the amount of risk you are willing to take.  Remember that in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund.  The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Management Risk.  The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the Advisor’s investment strategies for the Fund.  The value of your investment in the Fund may vary with the effectiveness of the Advisor’s research, analysis and asset allocation among portfolio securities.  If the Advisor’s investment strategies do not produce the expected results, your investment could be diminished or even lost.
 
 
5


 
General Market Risk.  The market value of a security may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.  These fluctuations may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time.  Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry, sector of the economy or the market as a whole.

Equity Market Risk.  Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change.  These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors including: expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion or contraction; and global or regional political, economic and banking crises.  If you held common stock of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer because common stockholders generally have inferior rights to receive payments from issuers in comparison with the rights of preferred stockholders, bondholders and other creditors of such issuers.

Preferred Stock Risk.  A preferred stock is a blend of the characteristics of a bond and common stock.  It can offer the higher yield of a bond and has priority over common stock in equity ownership, but does not have the seniority of a bond and, unlike common stock, its participation in the issuer’s growth may be limited.  Preferred stock has preference over common stock in the receipt of dividends and in any residual assets after payment to creditors should the issuer be dissolved.  Although the dividend on a preferred stock may be set at a fixed annual rate, in some circumstances it can be changed or omitted by the issuer.

Large-Cap Company Risk.  Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller competitors.  Also, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Convertible Securities Risk.  A convertible security is a fixed-income security (a debt instrument or a preferred stock) which may be converted at a stated price within a specified period of time into a certain quantity of the common stock of the same or a different issuer.  Convertible securities are senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities.  While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.

Options and Futures Risk. The Funds investment strategy includes options and futures contracts.  The Fund also may invest in so-called “synthetic options” or other derivative instruments written by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries.  Options transactions may be effected on securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter market.  When options are purchased over the counter, the Fund bears the risk that the counter-party that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract.  Such options may also be illiquid, and in such cases, the Fund may have difficulty closing out its position.  Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Fund will determine whether investments in options and futures contracts are illiquid.  The Fund is restricted to investing no more than 15% of its total assets in securities that are illiquid: that is, not readily marketable
 
 
6


 
Tax Risk.  Call option premiums received by the Fund will be recognized upon exercise, lapse or other disposition of the option and generally will be treated by the Fund as short-term capital gain or loss. The call options employed by the Fund reduce risk to the Fund by diminishing its risk of loss in offsetting positions in substantially similar or related property, thereby giving rise to “straddles” under federal income tax rules.  The straddle rules require the Fund to defer certain losses on positions within a straddle, and terminate or suspend the holding period for certain securities in which the Fund does not yet have a long-term holding period or has not yet satisfied the holding period required for qualified dividend income.  As a result, the Fund cannot assure any level of regular quarterly net investment income (income other than net long-term capital gain) and cannot assure you as to any level of capital gains distributions.

The Fund expects to generate premiums from the writing of call options. The Fund will recognize short-term capital gains upon the expiration of an option that it has written.  If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its option position and the premium received for writing the option will be short-term gain or loss.  Transactions involving the disposition of the Fund’s underlying securities (whether pursuant to the exercise of a call option, put option or otherwise) will give rise to capital gains or losses.  Due to the tax treatment of securities on which call options have been written, it is expected that most of the gains from the sale of the underlying securities held by the Fund will be short-term capital gains.  Because the Fund does not have control over the exercise of the call options it writes, such exercises or other required sales of the underlying stocks may force the Fund to realize capital gains or losses at inopportune times.

The Fund’s transactions in options are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) treat dividends that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income as non-qualified dividend income, (ii) treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (iii) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (iv) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain into higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income and (v) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited).

 
 
7


Debt Securities Risk.  Debt securities are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk and liquidity risk, which are more fully described below.
 
Below-Investment Grade Debt Securities Risk.  Below investment grade debt securities or “junk bonds” are debt securities rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.  Although junk bonds generally pay higher rates of interest than higher-rated securities, they are subject to a greater risk of loss of income and principal.  Junk bonds are subject to greater credit risk than higher-grade securities and have a higher risk of default.  Companies issuing high-yield junk bonds are more likely to experience financial difficulties that may lead to a weakened capacity to make principal and interest payments than issuers of higher grade securities.  Issuers of junk bonds are often highly leveraged and are more vulnerable to changes in the economy, such as a recession or rising interest rates, which may affect their ability to meet their interest or principal payment obligations.

Interest Rate Risk.  Debt securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes.  For example, bonds tend to decrease in value if interest rates rise.  Debt securities with longer maturities sometimes offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than debt securities with shorter maturities.

Call Risk.  During periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer may “call”--or repay-- its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates.  The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.

Prepayment and Extension Risk.  Many types of debt securities are subject to prepayment risk.  Prepayment occurs when the issuer of a debt security can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity.  Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment.  In addition, the potential impact of prepayment features on the price of a debt security can be difficult to predict and result in greater volatility.  On the other hand, rising interest rates could cause prepayments of the obligations to decrease, extending the life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities with lower payment rates.  This is known as extension risk and may increase the Fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.

Credit Risk.  Debt securities are generally subject to the risk that the issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when they are due.  There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay back debt.  Lower rated debt securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.

Liquidity Risk.  Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed-income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held.  These features make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.  Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance.  Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility.  Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out an investment contract when it wants to.  If this happens, the Fund will be required to hold the security or keep the position open, and the Fund could incur losses.
 
8


 
Securities Lending Risk.  To generate income, the Fund may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of its total assets to broker-dealers, banks and other institutions.  When the Fund engages in this practice, it is subject to the risk that the other party to a securities lending agreement will default on its obligations.
 
High Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk. High portfolio turnover rates could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income rates (as high as 35%) and could increase brokerage commission costs.  To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred by the Fund.  Rapid portfolio turnover also exposes shareholders to a higher current realization of short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income rates.

New Fund Risk.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board of Trustees, in consultation with the Advisor, may determine to liquidate the Fund.  A liquidation can be initiated by the Board of Trustees without a shareholder vote and, while shareholder interests will be the paramount consideration, the timing of any liquidation may not be favorable to certain individual shareholders.
 
Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI. Currently, disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders and in the Fund’s quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  These reports will be available free of charge by contacting Schooner Growth and Income Fund, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701 or by calling 866-724-5997.
 
9


 
Performance
The Fund has recently commenced operations and has been in operation for less than a calendar year.  As a result, there is no performance information available at this time.
 
Fees and Expenses
As an investor, you pay certain fees and expenses if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  The fees and expenses for the Fund are described in the following tables and are further explained in the example that follows.

Shareholder Fees (1)
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Class
A
Class
C
Institutional
Class
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases
4.75%
None
None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (2)
None
1.00%
None
Redemption Fee (3)
2.00%
2.00%
2.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
     
Management Fees
1.25%
1.25%
1.25%
Distribution (12b-1) and Shareholder Servicing Fees
0.25%(4)
1.00%(5)
None
Other Expenses (6)
0.27%
0.27%
0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(7)
1.77%
2.52%
1.52%
 
(1)
Although no sales loads or transaction fees may be charged, shareholders will be charged a fee by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”), for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks and stop payment orders.
 
(2)
You will be assessed a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% on Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase.  Please see “Shareholder Information-Choosing a Share Class” below for more information.
 
(3)
A Redemption Fee of 2.00% will be applied to shares redeemed within 7 days of purchase.
 
(4)
The Fund’s Distribution Fees for Class A consist of a 0.25% 12b-1 Fee.
 
(5)
The Distribution (12b-1) Fee for Class C represents a 0.75% 12b-1 distribution fee and a 0.25% Shareholder Servicing fee.
 
(6)
Because the Fund is new, these expenses, which include custodian, transfer agency and other customary Fund expenses, are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s first fiscal year of operation.
 
(7)
Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Advisor and the Fund, the Advisor has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund to ensure that Total Annual Operating Expenses for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class shares do not exceed 2.00%, 2.75% and 1.75%, respectively, of the Fund’s average net assets for [the 3 year period shown in the example below and for an indefinite period thereafter], subject to annual re-approval of the agreement by the Board of Trustees.  This operating expense limitation agreement can only be terminated by the Board of Trustees.  The Advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund, subject to limitations for fees it waived and Fund expenses it paid.  The Advisor is permitted to seek reimbursement from the Fund for the prior three fiscal years, so long as the reimbursement does not cause the Fund’s operating expenses to exceed the expense cap.
 
 
 
10


 
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Class A
One Year
Three Years
$646
$1,006

Class C
One Year
Three Years
$278
$652

Institutional Class
One Year
Three Years
$155
$480

Fund Expenses
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses.  Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Advisor and the Fund, the Advisor has agreed to reduce its fees and/or pay expenses of the Fund to ensure that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage and commission expenses, interest and tax expenses, Distribution Fees and extraordinary and non-recurring expenses) do not exceed 2.00%, 2.75% and 1.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, Class C and Class I shares, respectively.  Any reduction in advisory fees or payment of expenses made by the Advisor may be reimbursed by the Fund in subsequent fiscal years if the Advisor so requests.  This reimbursement may be requested if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses.  The Advisor is permitted to be reimbursed for fee reductions and/or expense payments made in the prior three fiscal years.  Any such reimbursement will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees.  The Fund must pay its current ordinary operating expenses before the Advisor is entitled to any reimbursement of fees and/or expenses.  This agreement may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

Management of the Fund

The Advisor
The Fund has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Schooner Investment Group, LLC (“Schooner” or the “Advisor”), a Pennsylvania limited liability company and a registered investment advisor. Schooner was founded in 2008 and provides portfolio management services to Schooner Growth and Income Fund. The Advisor, subject to the general oversight of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, has overall responsibility for directing the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. The Advisor is located at 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-200, Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087.

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Fund compensates the Advisor for its investment advisory services at the annual rate of 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable on a monthly basis.  Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Advisor is responsible for managing the Fund in accordance with its investment objective and policies, making decisions with respect to, and also orders for, all purchases and sales of portfolio securities.  The Advisor also maintains related records for the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s next annual or semi-annual report to shareholders.
 
Portfolio Manager
Greg Levinson
Gregory R. Levinson, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Advisor, serves as the Fund’s portfolio manager. Prior to joining the Advisor, Mr. Levinson was a Senior Portfolio Manager for Sailfish Capital Partners, LLC, from February 2007 to December 2007, where he was the head of global convertible and equity-linked trading. From May 2002 through December 2006, Mr. Levinson served as the founder and CIO of Polaris Advisors LP (“Polaris”), an equity-linked market neutral manager specializing in convertible arbitrage, equity, and derivative strategies. Prior to forming Polaris, from December 1999 through May 2002, he was a Managing Director and the Head Trader of convertible arbitrage at BNP/Cooper Neff Group, Inc. (“BNP”) where he led the U.S. convertibles team. His responsibilities included oversight of all group operations and strategy development.  Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Trading and was the head trader for BNP’s proprietary convertibles trading group, which he originally joined in 1995.  Mr. Levinson is a 1995 graduate of The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics/Finance.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of securities in the Fund.
 
 
11


 
Shareholder Information

Choosing a Share Class
The Fund offers Class A shares, Class C shares and Class I shares in this prospectus.   Class I is currently not open to investors, but is expected to open on or before August 1, 2009.  Each Class of shares has different expenses and distribution arrangements to provide for different investment needs.  Class A shares and Class C shares have different sales charges (“load”) and expense structures.  The Class I shares may be purchased without the imposition of any sales charges.  Class I shares are offered primarily to institutions such as pension and profit sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations, corporations and high net worth individuals.  Class I shares may also be offered through certain financial intermediaries that charge their customers transaction or other distribution or service fees with respect to their customer’s investments in the Fund.  Pension and profit sharing plans, employee trusts and employee benefit plan alliances and certain “wrap account” or “managed fund” programs established with broker-dealers or financial intermediaries that maintain an omnibus or pooled account for the Fund generally may purchase Class I shares, subject to investment minimums.  You should always discuss the suitability of your investment with your broker-dealer or financial Advisor.

Class A Shares.
If you purchase Class A shares of the Fund you will pay an initial sales charge of 4.75% when you invest unless you qualify for a reduction or waiver of the sales charge.  The sales charge for the Fund is calculated as follows*:

When you invest this amount
% of offering price*
% of net
$0-$49,999.99
4.75%
 
$50,000-$99,999.99
4.25%
 
$100,000-$249,999.99
3.50%
 
$250,000-$499,999.99
2.50%
 
$500,000-$999,999.99
2.00%
 
$1,000,000 or more
None
 
* The dollar amount of the sales charge is the lessor of the offering price or NAV at the time the sales load is paid.  Since the offering price is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria, the number of shares purchased and the dollar amount of the sales charge as a percentage of the offering price and of your net investment may be higher or lower depending on whether there was a downward or upward rounding.

The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Fund’s Class A shares, has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to its shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. The distribution plan for Class A shares provides for payments of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class A shares.
 
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Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
If you are eligible for sales charge reductions or waivers as described herein, you must notify your financial intermediary, the Fund or the Transfer Agent prior to submitting a purchase order. (See “Other Fund Policies” below).
 
Rights of Accumulation.  You may combine your current purchase of Class A shares with other existing Class A Fund shares currently owned for the purpose of qualifying for the lower initial sales charge rates that apply to larger purchases.  The applicable sales charge for the new purchase is based on the total of your current purchase and the current NAV of all other shares you own at the financial intermediary at which you are making the current purchase.  You may not aggregate shares held at different financial intermediaries.  If the current purchase is made directly through the Fund’s transfer agent, only those shares held directly at the Transfer Agent may apply toward the right of accumulation.  You may aggregate shares that you own, and that are currently owned by family members including spouses, minor children, grandchildren or parents at the same address (your “immediate family”). In addition, a fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other fiduciary account.  Shares held in the name of a nominee or custodian under pension, profit sharing or employee benefit plans may not be combined with other shares to qualify for the right of accumulation.  You must notify the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary at the time of purchase in order for the right of accumulation to apply.  The Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate this right at any time.

Reinstatement Privilege.  If you redeem Class A shares of the Fund, and within 60 days purchase and register new Class A Fund shares, you will not pay a sales charge on the new purchase amount.  The amount eligible for this privilege may not exceed the amount of your redemption proceeds.  To exercise this privilege, contact your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent.

Letter of Intent.  By signing a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) you can reduce your Class A sales charge.  Your individual purchases will be made at the applicable sales charge based on the amount you intend to invest over a 13-month period.  The LOI will apply to all purchases of Class A shares.  Any shares purchased within 90 days of the date you sign the letter of intent may be used as credit toward completion, but the reduced sales charge will only apply to new purchases made on or after that date.  Purchases resulting from the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains do not apply toward fulfillment of the LOI.  Shares equal to 4.75% of the amount of the LOI will be held in escrow during the 13-month period.  If at the end of that time the total amount of purchases made is less than the amount intended, you will be required to pay the difference between the reduced sales charge and the sales charge applicable to the individual purchases had the LOI not been in effect.  This amount will be obtained from redemption of the escrow shares.  Any remaining escrow shares will be released to you.

Sales Charge Waivers.  Sales charges for Class A shares may be waived under certain circumstances for some investors or for certain payments.  You will not have to pay a sales charge on purchases of Class A shares if you are any of the following persons:

(a) any investor buying shares through a wrap account or other investment program whereby the investor pays the investment professional directly for services;
 
(b) any trust created under a pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plan (including qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans), where such plan has at least $1,000,000 in assets or 100 employees, or where the administrator for such plan acts as the administrator for qualified employee benefit plans with assets of at least $1,000,000;
 
(c) any company exchanging shares with the Fund pursuant to a merger, acquisition or exchange offer;
 
 
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(d) any investor, including any investment company, that has entered into an investment advisory agreement or other agreement with the Advisor or its affiliates;
 
(e) any insurance company separate account;
 
(f) any current or retired trustee of the Trust, or any registered investment company where the Advisor acts as the sole investment Advisor; or any associated trust, person, profit sharing or other benefit plan of such current or retired trustee;
 
(g) any employee of the Advisor, the Funds’ distributor, its affiliates or other entity with a selling group agreement with the Advisor and its employees, subject to the internal policies and procedures of such entity;
 
(h) any member of the immediate family of a person qualifying under (f) or (g), including a spouse, child, stepchild, parent, sibling, grandparent and grandchild and UTMA accounts naming qualifying persons, in each case including in-law and adoptive relationships;
 
(i) any retirement (not including IRA accounts) and deferred compensation plans and the trusts used to fund such plans (including, but not limited to, those defined in Sections 401(k), 403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code and “rabbi trusts”), for which an affiliate of the Advisor acts as trustee or administrator,
 
(j) any 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans, and profit sharing and pension plans that invest $1 million or more or have more than 100 participants, and

(k) any qualified registered investment Advisors who buy through a broker-dealer or service agent who has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor that allows for load-waived Advisor Class A purchases.
 
To receive a reduction in your Class A sales charge or waiver, you must let your financial institution or shareholder services representative know at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction.  You may be asked by your financial Advisor or shareholder services representative to provide account statements or other information regarding your related accounts or related accounts of your immediate family in order to verify your eligibility for a reduced sales charge.  Your investment professional or financial institution must notify the Fund if your share purchase is eligible for the sales charge or waiver.  Initial sales charges will not be applied to shares purchased by reinvesting dividends and distributions.

If you would like information about sales charge waivers, call your financial representative or contact the Fund at 866-724-5997.  Information about the Fund’s sales charges is available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.______________.com.
 
Class C Shares
Class C shares have no front-end sales charge.  Class C shares have a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for any shares redeemed within one year of purchase. The CDSC on Class C shares is based on the current value of the shares being sold or their NAV when purchased, whichever is less.  To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a request to sell shares, we will first sell any shares in your account that are not subject to a CDSC.  If there are not enough of these shares to meet your request, we will sell the shares in the order that they were purchased.
 
 
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The CDSC applicable to the redemption of certain Class C shares will be waived for:

·  
shares redeemed by employees of the Advisor;
 
·  
the redemption of Class C shares held for more than one year after purchase;
 
·  
certain  redemptions for which the CDSC must be waived by law; and
 
·  
other circumstances at the Advisor’s discretion.
 
For the CDSC to be waived as described above, you must notify your financial intermediary, the Fund or the Transfer Agent prior to submitting a redemption order (see “Other Fund Policies” below).

Class C shares do not convert into Class A shares. No order for Class C shares may exceed $1,000,000. The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Fund’s Class C shares, has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to pay distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to its shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. The distribution plan for Class C shares provides for payments of up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class C shares.
 
Class I Shares
Sales of the Fund’s Class I shares are not subject to a front-end sales charge or a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee. Class I shares are only available to corporations or other institutions such as trusts, endowments, foundations,  broker-dealers purchasing for the accounts of others and certain other investors at the Advisor’s discretion. If you purchase Class I shares through an institutional organization, you may be charged a transaction-based fee or other fee for the services of such organization.  Class I is currently not open to investors, but is expected to open on or before August 1, 2009.  Please contact your financial intermediary or the Fund at 866-724-5997 for additional information regarding investment in Class I shares.
 
Share Price
The price of Fund shares is based on the Fund’s NAV.  The NAV is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets, less its liabilities, by the number of its shares outstanding.  In calculating the NAV, portfolio securities are valued using current market values or official closing prices, if available.  The NAV is calculated at the close of regular trading of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which is normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.  The NAV will not be calculated on days that the NYSE is closed for trading.

Each security owned by the Fund that is listed on a securities exchange is valued at its last sale price on that exchange on the date as of which assets are valued.  Where the security is listed on more than one exchange, the Fund will use the price on the exchange that the Fund generally considers to be the principal exchange on which the stock is traded.  Fund securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not necessarily represent the last sale price.  If there has been no sale on such exchange or on NASDAQ on such day, the security is valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices on such day.  When market quotations are not readily available, a security or other asset is valued at its fair value as determined under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.  These fair value procedures will also be used to price a security when corporate events, events in the securities market and/or world events cause the Advisor to believe that a security’s last sale price may not reflect its actual market value.  The intended effect of using fair value pricing procedures is to ensure that the Fund is accurately priced.  The Board of Trustees will regularly evaluate whether the Fund’s fair value pricing procedures continue to be appropriate in light of the specific circumstances of the Fund and the quality of prices obtained through their application by the Trust’s valuation committee.

When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.  Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the fair value determined for a particular security may be materially different (higher or lower) from the price of the security quoted or published by others or the value when trading resumes or realized upon its sale.  Therefore, if a shareholder purchases or redeems shares when the Fund holds securities priced at a fair value, the number of shares purchased or redeemed may be higher or lower than would be if the Fund were using market value pricing.
 
 
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Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent.  The Fund has authorized one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders.  Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf.  The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, receives the order.  Customer orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee.
 
How to Purchase Shares
Shares of the Fund are purchased at the next NAV calculated after your purchase order is received by the Fund, its agents or other authorized financial intermediary.  For Class A and Class C shares, the minimum initial investment is $5000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $500, unless you elect the Automatic Investment Plan, as described in more detail below. The minimum initial investment for Class I shares is $1,000,000. Shareholders will be given at least 30 days’ notice of any increase in the minimum dollar amount of initial or subsequent investments.

Minimum Investment Amounts

Share Purchase Amounts
Class A
Class C
Class I1
Minimum Initial Investment
$5,000
$5,000
$1,000,000
Minimum Additional Investment
$500
$500
None
Automatic Investment Plan – Monthly Minimum
   $250
   $250
Not Available
1Class I is expected to open to investors on or before August 1, 2009.
 
The Fund may waive the minimum initial investment for Class I shares in the following circumstances:
 
·  
shares transferred from existing accounts if the registration or beneficial owner of the account remains the same;
 
·  
employees of the Advisor and its affiliates, and the families of such employees;
 
·  
employee benefit plans sponsored by the Advisor;
 
·  
certain wrap programs offered by financial intermediaries;
 
·  
Trustees of the Fund; and
 
·  
certain other investors at the Advisor’s discretion.

The Fund will waive the minimum initial investment for Class A or Class C shares only at the Advisor’s discretion.

For the minimum initial investment to be waived as described above, you must notify your financial intermediary, the Fund or the Transfer Agent prior to submitting a your first purchase order. (See “Other Fund Policies” below):
 
If you place an order for Fund shares through a financial institution in accordance with such financial institution’s procedures, and such financial institution then transmits your order to the Transfer Agent in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s instructions, your purchase will be processed at the applicable price next calculated after the Transfer Agent receives and accepts your order, less any sales charges due.  The financial institution must promise to send to the Transfer Agent immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s procedures. If payment is not received within the time specified, the Transfer Agent may rescind the transaction and the financial institution will be held liable for any resulting fees or losses. In the case of certain authorized financial institutions (an “Authorized Intermediary”) that have made satisfactory payment or redemption arrangements with the Fund, orders will be processed at the applicable price next calculated after receipt by the Authorized Intermediary, consistent with applicable laws and regulations. Financial institutions, including Authorized Intermediaries, may set cut-off times for the receipt of orders that are earlier than the Fund’s.  For more information about your financial institution’s rules and procedures and whether your financial institution is an Authorized Intermediary, you should contact your financial institution directly.
 
 
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All account applications (“Account Application”) to purchase Fund shares are subject to acceptance by the Fund and are not binding until so accepted.  The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order if, in its discretion, it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.  For example, a purchase order may be refused if it appears so large that it would disrupt the management of the Fund.  Purchases may also be rejected from persons believed to be “market timers,” as described under the “Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions” section.  A service fee, currently $25, will be deducted from a shareholder’s account for any purchases that do not clear.  Written notice of a rejected purchase order will be provided to the investor within one to two business days under normal circumstances.  The Fund and the Transfer Agent will not be responsible for any losses, liability, cost or expense resulting from rejecting any purchase order.  Your order will not be accepted until the completed Account Application is received by the Fund or the Transfer Agent.

Purchase Requests Must be Received in Good Order

Your share price will be the next NAV per share calculated after the Transfer Agent or your Authorized Intermediary receives your purchase request in good order.  “Good order” means that your purchase request includes:

·  
the name of the Fund;
·  
the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;
·  
your account application or investment stub; and
·  
a check payable to “Schooner Growth and Income Fund.”

All purchase requests received in good order before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time will be processed on that same day.  Purchase requests received after 4:00 p.m., Eastern time will receive the next business day’s NAV per share.

Shares of the Fund have not been registered for sale outside of the United States.  The Fund generally does not sell shares to investors residing outside the United States, even if they are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents, except to investors with United States military APO or FPO addresses.

Purchase by Mail.  To purchase the Fund’s shares by mail, simply complete and sign the Account Application and mail it, along with a check made payable to “Schooner Growth and Income Fund” to:
 
Regular Mail  Overnight or Express Mail
Schooner Growth and Income Fund Schooner Growth and Income Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701 615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701 Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.  All purchases by check must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a domestic financial institution.  The Fund will not accept payment in cash or money orders.  The Fund also does not accept cashier’s checks in amounts of less than $10,000.  To prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.  The Fund is unable to accept post-dated checks, post-dated online bill pay checks, or any conditional order or payment.
 
 
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Purchase by Wire.  If you are making your first investment in the Fund, before you wire funds the Transfer Agent must have a completed Account Application.  You can mail or use an overnight service to deliver your Account Application to the Transfer Agent at the above address.  Upon receipt of your completed Account Application the Transfer Agent will establish an account for you.  Once your account has been established you may instruct your bank to send the wire.  Prior to sending the wire please call the Transfer Agent at 866-724-5997 to advise them of the wire and to ensure proper credit upon receipt.  Your bank must include the name of the Fund, your name and account number so that monies can be correctly applied.  Your bank should transmit immediately available funds by wire to:
 
Wire to: U.S. Bank, N.A.
ABA Number:  075000022
Credit: U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account:  112-952-137
Further Credit: Schooner Growth and Income Fund
  (Shareholder Name/Account Registration)
 
(Shareholder Account Number)
   

Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, to be eligible for same day pricing.  The Fund and U.S. Bank N.A., the Fund’s custodian, are not responsible for the consequences of delays from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring instructions.

Subsequent Investments. The minimum subsequent investment is $500 for Class A shares and Class C shares (unless you have elected to participate in an Automatic Investment Plan as described herein.)  Shareholders will be given at least 30 days’ notice of any increase in the minimum dollar amount of subsequent investments. There is no minimum amount for subsequent investments in Class I shares once Class I is open to investors. You may add to your account at any time by purchasing shares by mail, by telephone or by wire.  You must call to notify the Fund at 866-724-5997 before wiring.  A remittance form, which is attached to your individual account statement, should accompany any investments made through the mail.  All purchase requests must include your shareholder account number.
 
Investing by Telephone. If you have completed the “Telephone Purchase Authorization” section of the Account Application, you may purchase additional shares by telephoning the Fund at 866-724-5997. This option allows investors to move money from their bank account to their Fund account upon request.  Only bank accounts held at domestic institutions that are Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) members may be used for telephone transactions.  The minimum telephone purchase amount is $500.  If your order is received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, shares will be purchased in your account at the applicable price determined on the day your order is placed.
 
Automatic Investment Plan.  For your convenience, the Fund offers an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”) for Class A and Class C shares. The Automatic Investment Plan is not available for Class I Shares. Under the AIP, after your initial investment, you may authorize the Fund to withdraw automatically from your personal checking or savings account an amount that you wish to invest, which must be at least $250, on a monthly or quarterly basis.  In order to participate in the AIP, your bank must be a member of the ACH network.  If you wish to enroll in the AIP, complete the appropriate section in the Account Application.  The Fund may terminate or modify this privilege at any time.  You may terminate your participation in the AIP at any time by notifying the Transfer Agent five days prior to the effective date of the request.  A fee will be charged if your bank does not honor the AIP draft for any reason.
 
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Anti-Money Laundering Program.  Please note that the Fund has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”) and related anti-money laundering laws and regulations.  In order to ensure compliance with this law, the Account Application asks for, among other things, the following information for all “customers” seeking to open an “account” (as those terms are defined in rules adopted pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act):

·    
full name;
·    
date of birth (individuals only);
·    
Social Security or taxpayer identification number;
·    
permanent street address (P.O. Box only is not acceptable); and
·    
accounts opened by entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships or trusts will require additional documentation.

Please note that if any information listed above is missing, your Account Application will be returned and your account will not be opened.  In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, the Transfer Agent will verify the information on your application as part of the Program.  The Fund reserves the right to request additional clarifying information and may close your account if such clarifying information is not received by the Fund within a reasonable time of the request or if the Fund cannot form a reasonable belief as to the true identity of a customer.  If you require additional assistance when completing your application, please contact the Fund at 866-724-5997.
 
 
How to Redeem Shares
In general, orders to sell or “redeem” shares may be placed either directly with the Fund or with the same financial institution that placed the original purchase order in accordance with the procedures established by that institution.  Your financial institution is responsible for sending your order to the Transfer Agent and for crediting your account with the proceeds.  You may redeem part or all of your Fund shares on any business day that the Fund calculates its NAV.  To redeem shares with the Fund, you must contact the Fund either by mail or by phone to place a redemption order.  You should request your redemption prior to market close to obtain that day’s closing NAV.  Redemption requests received after the close of the NYSE will be treated as though received on the next business day.

Shareholders who have an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”) or other retirement plan must indicate on their redemption request whether or not to withhold federal income tax.  Redemption requests failing to indicate an election not to have tax withheld will generally be subject to 10% withholding. IRA accounts may not be redeemed by telephone.

Payment of Redemption Proceeds.  You may redeem your Fund shares at a price equal to the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your redemption request in good order (less any applicable redemption fee).  Your redemption request cannot be processed on days the NYSE is closed.  Redemption proceeds with respect to all requests received in good order by the Fund before the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) will usually be sent on the next business day.

A redemption request will be deemed in “good order” if it includes:

·    
the shareholder’s name;
 
·    
the name of the Fund you are redeeming;
 
·    
the account number;
 
·    
the share or dollar amount to be redeemed; and
 
·    
signatures of all shareholders on the account and a signature guarantee(s), if applicable.

You may have a check sent to the address of record, proceeds may be wired to your pre-established bank account or funds may be sent via electronic funds transfer through the ACH network using the bank instructions previously established on your account.  Unless noted, proceeds will be processed within seven calendar days after the Fund receives your redemption request unless the check used to purchase the shares has not cleared.
 
 
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Wire Redemption.   Wire transfers may be arranged to redeem shares.  The Transfer Agent charges a fee, currently $15, per wire which will be deducted from your proceeds on a complete or share-specific trade.  The fee will be deducted from your remaining account balance on dollar specific redemptions.

Before selling recently purchased shares, please note that if the Transfer Agent has not yet collected payment for the shares you are selling, it may delay sending the proceeds until the payment is collected, which may take up to 12 calendar days from the purchase date.  Furthermore, there are certain times when you may be unable to sell Fund shares or receive proceeds.  Specifically, the Fund may suspend the right to redeem shares or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than three business days: (1) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend or holiday closings) or trading on the NYSE is restricted; (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly determine the value of its net assets; or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit for the protection of shareholders. The Fund will automatically redeem shares if a purchase check is returned for insufficient funds and the shareholder’s account will be charged for any loss. The Trust reserves the right to make a “redemption in kind” payment in portfolio securities rather than cash.

Redemption proceeds will be sent to the address of record.  If the redemption proceeds are requested to be sent to an address other than the address of record, or if the address of record has been changed within 15 days of the redemption request, the request must be in writing with your signature guaranteed.  Signature guarantees can be obtained from banks and securities dealers, but not from a notary public.  The Fund will not be responsible for interest lost on redemption amounts due to lost or misdirected mail.

The Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee for certain redemption requests such as redemption requests made payable to a name that is different than on the account statement or an address not on record with the Fund.  A signature guarantee assures that your signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account redemptions.  A signature guarantee of each owner is required in the following situations:

·    
if ownership is changed on your account;
 
·    
when redemption proceeds are sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;
 
·    
written requests to wire redemption proceeds (if not previously authorized on the account);
 
·    
when establishing or modifying certain services on an account;
 
·    
if a change of address request has been received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 days; and
 
·    
for all written redemptions in excess of $50,000 from any shareholder account.

In addition to the situations described above, the Fund and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to require a signature guarantee in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular situation.

Redemption by Mail.  You can execute most redemptions by furnishing an unconditional written request to the Fund to redeem your shares at the current NAV.  Redemption requests in writing should be sent to the Transfer Agent at:
 
Regular Mail  Overnight or Express Mail
Schooner Growth and Income Fund Schooner Growth and Income Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701 615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701 Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
 
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Telephone Redemption.  If you have been authorized to perform telephone transactions (either by completing the required portion of your Account Application or by subsequent arrangement in writing with the Fund), you may redeem shares, up to $50,000, by instructing the Fund by phone at 866-724-5997. A signature guarantee may be required of all shareholders in order to change telephone redemption privileges on an existing account.  Telephone redemptions cannot be made if you notify the Transfer Agent of a change of address within 15 days before the redemption request.  If you have a retirement account, you may not redeem shares by telephone.  Once a telephone transaction has been placed, it cannot be cancelled or modified.
 
Note:  Neither the Fund nor any of its service providers will be liable for any loss or expense in acting upon instructions that are reasonably believed to be genuine.  To confirm that all telephone instructions are genuine, the Fund will use reasonable procedures, such as requesting:

·    
that you correctly state your Fund account number;
 
·    
the name in which your account is registered; and
 
·    
the Social Security or taxpayer identification number under which the account is registered.
 

Systematic Withdrawal Plan.  The Fund offers a systematic withdrawal plan (the “SWP”) whereby shareholders or their representatives may request a redemption in a specific dollar amount be sent to them each month or calendar quarter.  Investors may choose to have a check sent to the address of record, or proceeds may be sent to a pre-designated bank account via the ACH network.  To start the SWP, your account must have Fund shares with a value of at least $10,000, and the minimum amount that may be withdrawn each month or quarter is $250. The SWP may be terminated or modified by a shareholder or the Fund at any time without charge or penalty.  A withdrawal under the SWP involves a redemption of Fund shares, and may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.  In addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the distributions credited to your account, the account ultimately may be depleted.  To establish the SWP, complete the SWP section of the Account Application.  Please call 866-724-5997 for additional information regarding the SWP.

The Fund’s Right to Redeem an Account.   If  an account balance is less than $5,000 for Class A or Class C shares, or $1,000,000 for Class I shares, other than as a result of a decline in the NAV or for market reasons,  the Fund reserves the right to either 1)  redeem the shares of any shareholder whose account balance is below the minimum amount specified and remit the proceeds to the shareholder, less any applicable fees, or 2) deduct a $50 annual account maintenance fee at the Fund’s fiscal year end.  . Failure or delay in exercising this right does not constitute a waiver of the Fund’s right to redeem the shares in accounts below the minimum balance required.
 
Redemption-in-Kind.  The Fund generally pays redemption proceeds in cash.  However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise (and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders), the Fund may pay all or part of a shareholder’s redemption proceeds in liquid securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption-in-kind).

Specifically, if the amount you are redeeming during any 90-day period is in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund, valued at the beginning of such period, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund in securities instead of cash.  If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash, and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash.
 
Redemption Fees
Redemptions of short-term holdings may create missed opportunity costs for the Fund, as the Advisor may be unable to take or maintain positions in securities that employ certain strategies that require a longer period of time to achieve anticipated results.

For these reasons, the Fund will assess a 2.00% fee on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares held for less than 7 days.  The Fund uses the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method to determine the 7 day holding period. Under this method, the date of the redemption will be compared to the earliest purchase date of shares held in the account.  If this holding period is less than 7 days, the redemption fee will be assessed.  The redemption fee will be applied on redemptions of each investment made by a shareholder that does not remain in the Fund for at least a 7 day period from the date of purchase.  This fee does not apply to Fund shares acquired through reinvested distributions (net investment income and capital gains), redemptions under the SWP and shares purchased pursuant to the AIP.
 
 
21


 
Although the Fund has the goal of applying this redemption fee to most redemptions of shares held for less than 7 days, the Fund may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through financial intermediaries in non-disclosed or omnibus accounts.  While the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with such financial intermediaries as described under “Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions” which contractually require such financial intermediaries to provide the Fund with information relating to their customers investing in the Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to it from financial intermediaries and may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through these financial intermediaries.  In addition, because the Fund is required to rely on information from the financial intermediary as to the applicable redemption fee, the Fund cannot ensure that the financial intermediary is always imposing such fee on the underlying shareholder in accordance with the Fund’s policies.  The Fund also reserves the right to waive the redemption fee, subject to its sole discretion, in instances deemed by the Advisor not to be disadvantageous to the Fund or its shareholders and which do not indicate market timing strategies.

The Fund reserves the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fees or waivers at any time and will give shareholders 30 days’ prior written notice of any material changes, unless otherwise provided by law.  The redemption fee policy may be modified or amended in the future to reflect, among other factors, regulatory requirements mandated by the SEC.
 
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions
The Fund is intended for long-term investors.  Short-term “market-timers” who engage in frequent purchases and redemptions can disrupt the Fund’s investment program and create additional transaction costs that are borne by all of the Fund’s shareholders.  The Board of Trustees has adopted polices and procedures that are designed to discourage excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm performance.  The Fund takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities in the Fund.  These steps may include, among other things, monitoring trading activity and using fair value pricing procedures, as determined by the Board of Trustees, when the Advisor determines current market prices are not readily available.  Although these efforts are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity will occur.  The Fund seeks to exercise its judgment in implementing these tools to the best of its abilities in a manner that it believes is consistent with shareholder interests.  Except as noted herein, the Fund applies all restrictions uniformly in all applicable cases.

The Fund uses a variety of techniques to monitor for and detect abusive trading practices.  These techniques may change from time to time as determined by the Fund in its sole discretion.  To minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order (but not a redemption request), in whole or in part, for any reason (including, without limitation, purchases by persons whose trading activity in Fund shares is believed by the Advisor to be harmful to the Fund) and without prior notice.  The Fund may decide to restrict purchase and sale activity in its shares based on various factors, including whether frequent purchase and sale activity will disrupt portfolio management strategies and adversely affect Fund performance.
 
 
22


 
Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions the Fund handles, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive.  In particular, since the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries that use group or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot always detect frequent trading.  However, the Fund will work with financial institutions as necessary to discourage shareholders from engaging in abusive trading practices and to impose restrictions on excessive trades.  In this regard, the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which these intermediaries are required to provide to the Fund, at the Fund’s request, certain information relating to their customers investing in the Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts.  The Fund will use this information to attempt to identify abusive trading practices.  Financial intermediaries are contractually required to follow any instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit future purchases from shareholders that are found to have engaged in abusive trading in violation of the Fund’s policies.  However, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to it from financial intermediaries and cannot ensure that it will always be able to detect abusive trading practices that occur through non-disclosed and omnibus accounts.  As a result, the Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices in non-disclosed and omnibus accounts may be limited.
 
Other Fund Policies
Your Responsibilities Regarding Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers of  Minimum Initial Investments or Redemption Fees
As described in this Prospectus, there are certain situations in which you may be eligible for a reduction of the sales charge applicable to Class A shares or for a waiver minimum initial investments amounts or redemption fees. It is not Fund’s or the Transfer Agent’s obligation to ensure that you receive the sales charge reduction or waivers to which you may be entitled. To receive sales charge reductions, you must inform the your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent of the existence of share holdings in the accounts of family members,  other shares eligible for Rights of Accumulation, or Letters of Intent.  If you fail to inform your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent at the time you open an account or submit a purchase or redemption request of any sales charge reduction or waiver for which you believe you are eligible, you may not receive the sales charge reduction or waiver. As such, it is very important that you retain all records that may be needed to substantiate the basis for your eligibility.  (The Fund may require (1) the names and account numbers of all accounts claimed in connection with a requested sales charge reduction, and (2) documents relating to the original date and price of purchase of those holdings of shares of the Fund, and (3) a copy of any agreement with the Fund or the Advisor which substantiates your claim for the reduction or waiver.)  You should not rely upon your financial intermediary, the Fund or the Transfer Agent to retain this information.
 
Telephone Transactions
If you elect telephone privileges on the account application or in a letter to the Fund, you may be responsible for any fraudulent telephone orders as long as the Fund has taken reasonable precautions to verify your identity.  In addition, once you place a telephone transaction request, it cannot be cancelled or modified.
 
During periods of significant economic or market change, telephone transactions may be difficult to complete. Telephone trades must be received by or prior to market close.  During periods of high market activity, shareholders may encounter higher than usual call wait times.  Please allow sufficient time to ensure that you will be able to complete your telephone transaction prior to market close.  If you are unable to contact the Fund by telephone, you may also mail your requests to the Fund at the address listed previously in the “How to Purchase Shares” section. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent are liable for any loss incurred due to failure to complete a telephone transaction prior to market close.

Policies of Other Financial Intermediaries
Your broker-dealer or other financial institution may establish policies that differ from those of the Fund.  For example, the institution may charge transaction fees, set higher minimum investments or impose certain limitations on buying or selling shares in addition to those identified in this Prospectus.  Contact your broker-dealer or other financial institution for details.  Shares of the Fund have not been registered for sale outside of the U.S.
 
12b-1 Fee

12b-1 Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the “Plan”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  Under the Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay the Fund’s distributor a fee for the sale and distribution of the Fund’s shares and services it provides to shareholders.  The maximum amount of the fee authorized is 0.25% and 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets annually for the Fund’s Class A shares and Class C shares, respectively. The Class C fees represent a 0.75% 12b-1 distribution fee and a 0.25% shareholders servicing fee.  Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment in Fund shares and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Class I shares are not subject to distribution fees.

In addition, the Fund may pay service fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial Advisors or other financial institutions, including affiliates of the Advisor, for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents.

The Advisor, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund.  Such payments and compensation are in addition to service fees paid by the Fund, if any.  These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary.  Cash compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to the Fund’s shareholders.  The Advisor may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of the shares sold.
 
 
23


 
Distributions and Taxes

Distributions
The Fund will make distributions of net investment income and capital gains, if any, at least annually, typically in December.  The Fund may make additional distributions if it deems it desirable at another time during any year.

All distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares unless you choose one of the following options:  (1) receive distributions of capital gains in cash, while reinvesting net income distributions in additional Fund shares; or (2) receive all distributions in cash.

If you wish to change your distribution option, write to the Transfer Agent in advance of the payment date of the distribution.  However, any such change will be effective only as to distributions for which the record date is seven or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.

If you elect to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check, or if a check remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the Fund’s then current NAV and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.
 
Tax Consequences
Distributions of the Fund’s net investment income (which includes, but is not limited to, interest, dividends and net short-term capital gains), if any, are generally taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as ordinary income.  To the extent that the Fund’s distributions of net investment income consist of “qualified dividend” income, such income is currently subject to tax at the reduced rate of tax applicable to non-corporate shareholders for net long-term capital gains, provided certain holding period requirements have been satisfied by the Fund and the shareholder.  To the extent the Fund’s distributions of net investment income are attributable to net short-term capital gains, such distributions will be treated as ordinary dividend income for the purposes of income tax reporting and will not be available to offset a shareholder’s capital losses from other investments.

Distributions of net capital gains (net long-term capital gains less net short-term capital losses) are generally taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time a shareholder has owned Fund shares.

You will be taxed in the same manner whether you receive your distributions (whether of net investment income or capital gains) in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.

Shareholders who sell or redeem shares generally will have a capital gain or loss from the sale or redemption.  The amount of the gain or loss and the applicable rate of tax will depend generally upon the amount paid for the shares, the amount received from the sale or redemption and how long the shares were held by a shareholder.
 
 
24


 
Shareholders will be advised annually as to the federal tax status of all distributions made by the Fund for the preceding year.  Distributions by the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.  Additional tax information may be found in the SAI.

This section is not intended to be a full discussion of tax laws and the effect of such laws on you.  There may be other federal, state, foreign or local tax considerations applicable to a particular investor.  You are urged to consult your own tax adviser.

Financial Highlights

Because the Fund has recently commenced operations, there are no financial highlights available at this time.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
25

 
PRIVACY NOTICE

The Fund collects non-public personal information about you from the following sources:

·    
information we receive about you on applications or other forms;
·    
information you give us orally; and/or
·    
information about your transactions with us or others.

We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our shareholders or former shareholders without the shareholder’s authorization, except as permitted by law or in response to inquiries from governmental authorities.  We may share information with affiliated parties and unaffiliated third parties with whom we have contracts for servicing the Fund.  We will provide unaffiliated third parties with only the information necessary to carry out their assigned responsibility.  All shareholder records will be disposed of in accordance with applicable law. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your non-public personal information and require third parties to treat your non-public personal information with the same high degree of confidentiality.

In the event that you hold shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, including, but not limited to, a broker-dealer, bank or trust company, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared with unaffiliated third parties.


 






This page is not a part of the Prospectus

 
 
 


 
Investment Advisor
Schooner Investment Group, LLC
Radnor Financial Center
150 N. Radnor Chester Rd., Suite F-200
Radnor, PA 19087


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[_________________]


Legal Counsel
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
780 North Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
Custody Operations
1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212


Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Fund Administrator
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Schooner Growth and Income Fund
a series of Trust for Professional Managers

 
 

 

 
FOR MORE INFORMATION

You can find more information about the Fund in the following documents:

Statement of Additional Information
The Fund’s SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information.  A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference.  This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports provide the most recent financial reports and portfolio listings. Once available, the annual report will contain a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that affected the Fund’s performance during the Fund’s last fiscal year.
 
You can obtain a free copy of these documents, request other information or make general inquiries about the Fund by calling the Fund (toll-free) at 866-724-5997, by visiting the Fund’s website at www.__________.com or by writing to:
 
Schooner Growth and Income Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701

You can review and copy information, including the Fund’s shareholder reports and SAI, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.  You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling (202) 551-8090.  Reports and other information about the Fund are also available:

·    
free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov;
·    
for a fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0104; or
·    
for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.



(The Trust’s SEC Investment Company Act file number is 811-10401)
 
 
 

 
Subject to completion July 9, 2008
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 becomes 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 state where the offer or sale is not permitted.



Statement of Additional Information
 
Dated: ___________, 2008




Schooner Growth and Income Fund

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Schooner Growth and Income Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Trust for Professional Managers (the “Trust”).  This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current prospectus dated ________, 2008 (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented and amended from time to time.  To obtain a copy of the Prospectus, please write or call the Fund at the address or telephone number below:
 
Schooner Growth and Income Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
866-724-5997
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
---------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
---------------------------------
THE TRUST
3
   
INVESTMENT POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND RISKS
3
   
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
17
   
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
18
   
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
18
TRUSTEE OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES
19
BOARD COMMITTEES
19
TRUSTEE COMPENSATION
20
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
20
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
21
SERVICE PROVIDERS
22
   
LEGAL COUNSEL
23
   
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
23
   
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES
23
   
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
23
   
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
25
   
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
26
   
CODE OF ETHICS
26
   
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
26
   
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
27
   
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
27
   
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
28
   
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
29
   
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
31
   
TAX MATTERS
34
   
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
35
   
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
36
   
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS
37
   
APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICY OF THE ADVISOR
60
 
 
 
B-2

 
 
The Trust
Trust for Professional Managers is an open-end management investment company, or mutual fund, organized as a Delaware statutory trust on May 29, 2001.  The Fund is one series, or mutual fund, formed by the Trust.  The Fund is a diversified series and has its own investment objective and policies.  As of the date of this SAI, shares of twenty other series of the Trust are offered in separate prospectuses and SAIs.  The Trust may start additional series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.  On October 28, 2004, the Trust changed its name to “Trust for Professional Managers.”  Before that time, the Trust was known as “Zodiac Trust.”
 
The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of interests (or shares).  Interests in the Fund are represented by shares of beneficial interest each with a par value of $0.001.  Each series of the Trust has equal voting rights and liquidation rights, and are voted in the aggregate and not by the series except in matters where a separate vote is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or when the matters affect only the interests of a particular series.  When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full share owned and fractional votes for fractional shares owned.  The Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders.  The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees”) shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon removal of any trustee when requested to do so in writing by shareholders holding 10% or more of the Trust’s outstanding shares.
 
Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to the Fund and is entitled to such distributions out of the income belonging to the Fund as are declared by the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees has the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series so long as the proportionate beneficial interests in the assets belonging to that series and the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected.  Additionally, in case of any liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated are entitled to receive a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series.  Expenses attributable to any series are borne by that series.  Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees on the basis of relative net assets, number of shareholders or other equitable manner.  No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.

The assets of the Fund received for the issue or sale of its shares, and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, shall constitute the underlying assets of the Fund.  In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Fund, the holders of shares of the Fund are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders.

Schooner Investment Group, LLC serves as the investment advisor to the Fund (the “Advisor”).

Investment Policies, Strategies and Risks
The primary investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation with the generation of moderate current income. Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of equity, convertible securities and single issuer equity call option securities of U.S. companies with large market capitalizations.  The Fund considers companies with large market capitalizations (“large-cap companies”) to be those companies with market capitalizations of $5 billion or more.  The Fund may also invest in preferred stock, restricted securities, other investment companies or exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), as well as debt securities and bonds.  The Fund attempts to keep a consistent balance between risk and reward over the course of different market cycles and volatility regimes, through various combinations of stocks, convertible securities, and writing (selling) single issuer equity call options to achieve what the Advisor believes to be an appropriate blend for the current market. As the market environment changes, the Fund’s portfolio securities may change in an attempt to achieve a relatively consistent risk level over time. At some points in a market cycle, one type of security may make up a substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio, while at other times certain securities may have minimal or no representation, depending on market conditions. The average term to maturity of the convertible securities purchased by the Fund will typically range from two to ten years. The Fund normally invests in the common stocks of approximately 50 to 75 large-cap companies with a sustainable competitive advantage. The Advisor uses an intensive qualitative and quantitative research process to attempt to identify companies who, in the view of Advisor, have the potential to generate a consistent and sustainable high return on capital and have strong growth prospects. The Fund’s investment strategy consists of a three tiered approach, including:

1)  
manage an equity portfolio of  U.S. large cap companies;
2)  
sell out-of-the-money single issuer call options against long equity positions;
3)  
selectively purchase U.S. convertible securities.
 
 
B-3


 
The stock and option component of the overall investment strategy is often referred to as a “ buy-write” strategy (also called a “covered call” strategy), in which the Advisor writes (sells) a call option contract while at the same time owning an equivalent number of shares of the underlying stock.  The stock is held in the same brokerage account from which the Advisor writes the call, and thus fully collateralizes, or “covers,” the obligation conveyed by writing a call option contract.

The Fund is diversified.  Under applicable federal laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time the fund purchases a security.  However, if the Fund purchases a security and holds it for a period of time, the security may become a larger percentage of the Fund’s total assets due to movements in the financial markets.  If the market affects several securities held by the Fund, the Fund may have a greater percentage of its assets invested in securities of fewer issuers.

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.  The following discussion supplements the description of the Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies set forth in the Prospectus.  Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below (see “Fundamental Investment Limitations”), the Fund’s investment strategies and policies are not fundamental and may be changed by sole action of the Board of Trustees, without shareholder approval.  While the Fund is permitted to hold securities and engage in various strategies as described hereafter, it is not obligated to do so.  The Fund’s investment objective and strategies may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders upon 30 days’ written notice to shareholders.

Whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security, or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition or sale of such security or other asset.  Accordingly, except with respect to borrowing and illiquid securities, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether an investment complies with the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.  In addition, if a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular investment by the Fund, the Fund may receive stock, real estate or other investments that the Fund would not, or could not, buy.  If this happens, the Fund would sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to maximize the return to its shareholders.

 
B-4

 

 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS

Equity Securities.  Equity securities represent ownership interests, or the rights to acquire ownership interests, in an issuer and include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, options and warrants, with different types of equity securities providing different voting and dividend rights and priority if the issuer becomes bankrupt.  The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions.  Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.

Preferred Stocks.  Preferred stocks pay fixed or floating dividends to investors and have “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of an issuer’s assets. This means that an issuer must pay dividends on preferred stocks before paying any dividends on its common securities.  Some preferred stocks offer a fixed rate of return with no maturity date.  Because those preferred stocks never mature, they trade like long-term bonds, can be more volatile than other types of preferred stocks and may have heightened sensitivity to changes in interest rates.  Other preferred stocks have variable dividends, generally determined on a quarterly or other periodic basis, either according to a formula based upon a specified premium or discount to the yield on particular U.S. Treasury securities or based on an auction process involving bids submitted by holders and prospective purchasers of such securities.  Because preferred stocks represent an equity ownership interest in an issuer, their value usually will react more strongly than bonds and other debt instruments to actual or perceived changes in an issuer’s financial condition or prospects or to fluctuations in the equity markets.  Preferred stockholders usually have no voting rights or their voting rights are limited to certain extraordinary transactions or events.

Convertible Securities.  Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock or other equity security at the option of the holder during a specified period.  Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities.  The investment characteristics of each convertible security vary widely, which allows convertible securities to be employed for a variety of investment strategies.  The Fund will exchange or convert convertible securities into shares of underlying common stock when, in the opinion of the Advisor, the investment characteristics of the underlying common stock or other equity security will assist the Fund in achieving its investment objectives.  The Fund may also elect to hold or trade convertible securities.  In selecting convertible securities, the Advisor evaluates the investment characteristics of the convertible security as a fixed income instrument, and the investment potential of the underlying equity security for capital appreciation.  In evaluating these matters with respect to a particular convertible security, the Advisor considers numerous factors, including the economic and political outlook, the value of the security relative to other investment alternatives, trends in the determinants of the issuer s profits, and the issuer’s management capability and practices.

Writing Covered Call Options.  The Fund may write covered call options on equity securities to reduce the volatility of the portfolio or to earn premium income.  A call option gives the holder (buyer) the right to purchase a security at a specified price (the exercise price) at any time until a certain date (the expiration date).  A written call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying security subject to the call option at all times during the option period.
 
 
B-5


 
When writing call options on securities, the Fund may cover its position by owning the underlying security on which the option is written.  Alternatively, the Fund may cover its position by owning a call option on the underlying security, on a share for share basis, which is deliverable under the option contract at a price no higher than the exercise price of the call option written by the Fund or, if higher, by owning such call option and depositing and maintaining cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the two exercise prices.  In addition, the Fund may cover its position by depositing and maintaining cash or liquid securities equal in value to the exercise price of the call option written by the Fund.  The principal reason for the Fund to write call options on securities held by the Fund is to attempt to realize, through the receipt of premiums, a greater return than would be realized on the underlying securities alone.

There is no assurance that a closing transaction can be effected at a favorable price.  During the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium received, given up the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the underlying security increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline.
 
Bonds, Debt and Fixed Income Obligations.  The Fund may invest up to 50% of its net assets in bonds and other types of debt and fixed income obligations of U.S. issuers.  These securities may pay fixed, variable, adjustable or floating rates of interest, and may include zero coupon obligations that do not pay interest until maturity. Bonds, debt and fixed income obligations may include:
 
·    
bonds;
·    
notes and debentures issued by corporations; and
·    
U.S. Government Securities.

The Fund may invest in both investment grade and up to 30% of its net assets in non-investment grade bonds, debt and fixed-income obligations.  Investment grade debt securities have received a rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (“S&P”), or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) in one of the four highest rating categories or, if not rated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality to such rated securities.  Non-investment grade debt securities (typically called “junk bonds”) have received a rating from S&P or Moody’s of below investment grade, or have been given no rating and are determined by the Advisor to be of a quality below investment grade.  There are no limitations on the maturity or duration of debt securities that may be purchased by the Fund.  See Appendix A for descriptions of these rating categories.

Bank Debt Instruments. Bank debt instruments in which the Fund may invest consist of certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits issued by national banks and state banks, trust companies and mutual savings banks, or by banks or savings institutions, the accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Savings Association Insurance Fund.  Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank to repay funds deposited with it for a definite period of time (usually from 14 days to one year) at a stated or variable interest rate.  Banker’s acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer, which instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.  Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate.  The Fund will not invest in time deposits maturing in more than seven days if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the value of its net assets would be invested in such securities and other illiquid securities.

Corporate Debt Securities.  Corporate debt securities are fixed-income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations, although corporate debt instruments may also include bank loans to companies. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or un-secured status.  Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured.
 
 
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The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may be rated investment grade or below investment grade and may carry variable or floating rates of interest.

Because of the wide range of types, and maturities, of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of its issuers, corporate debt securities have widely varying potentials for return and risk profiles.  For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated investment grade may have a modest return on principal, but carries relatively limited risk.  On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued by a small foreign corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal, but carries a relatively high degree of risk.

Corporate debt securities carry both credit risk and interest rate risk.  Credit risk is the risk that the Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when it is due.  Some corporate debt securities that are rated below investment grade are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities.  The credit risk of a particular issuer’s debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment.  For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities.  This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities.  In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of higher-ranking senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of more junior securities.  Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of certain corporate debt securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise.  In general, corporate debt securities with longer terms tend to fall more in value when interest rates rise than corporate debt securities with shorter terms.
 
High Yield Fixed-Income Securities.  The Fund may invest up to thirty percent of its net asset value in higher yield fixed-income securities, often referred to as “junk bonds”.  These lower-grade debt instruments generally offer higher yields than other debt securities.  They can also carry a greater risk of default, which is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments when due.  In the event of an unanticipated default, the Fund would experience a reduction in its income, and could expect a decline in the market value of the securities affected by the default.  During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress that adversely affects their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing, and any of these factors could lead to a default.

The market prices of lower-grade debt securities are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher rated investments but are more sensitive to adverse economic or political conditions and negative, individual issuer developments.  Lower-grade debt securities may also have less liquid markets than higher rated debt securities, and their liquidity may be more heavily impacted by adverse economic, political or issuer conditions.  Negative publicity or investor perceptions, as well as new or proposed laws, may also have a significant impact on the market for these debt securities.
 
 
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Credit quality of lower-grade securities can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular higher yielding, high-risk debt security.  For these reasons, the Advisor  uses its own independent and ongoing review of credit quality in addition to the national rating organizations in selecting these debt securities for the Funds.

Option Transactions.  The Fund may write both covered and uncovered options.  Option transactions in which the Fund may engage involve the specific risks described above as well as the following risks:
 
·    
the writer of an option may be assigned an exercise at any time during the option period;
·    
disruptions in the markets for underlying instruments could result in losses for options investors;
·    
imperfect or no correlation between the option and the securities being hedged;
·    
the insolvency of a broker could present risks for the broker’s customers; and
·    
market imposed restrictions may prohibit the exercise of certain options.

In addition, the option activities of the Fund may affect its portfolio turnover rate and the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund.  The success of the Fund in using the option strategies described above depends, among other things, on the Advisor’s ability to predict the direction and volatility of price movements in the options and securities markets and the Advisor’s ability to select the proper time, type and duration of the options.
 
By writing call options, the Fund forgoes the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price except insofar as the premium represents such a profit.  The Fund may also seek to earn additional income through receipt of premiums by writing covered put options.  The risk involved in writing such options is that there could be a decrease in the market value of the underlying security.  If this occurred, the option could be exercised and the underlying security would then be sold to the Fund at a higher price than its then current market value.
 
The Fund may purchase put and call options to attempt to provide protection against adverse price effects from anticipated changes in prevailing prices of securities.  The purchase of a put option generally protects the value of portfolio holdings in a falling market, while the purchase of a call option generally protects cash reserves from a failure to participate in a rising market.  In purchasing a call option, the Fund would be in a position to realize a gain if, during the option period, the price of the security increased by an amount greater than the premium paid.  The Fund would realize a loss if the price of the security decreased or remained the same or did not increase during the period by more than the amount of the premium.  If a put or call option purchased by the Fund were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, its premium would represent a realized loss to the Fund.
 
The imperfect correlation in price movement between an option and the underlying financial instrument and/or the costs of implementing such an option may limit the effectiveness of the strategy.  The Fund’s ability to establish and close out options positions will be subject to the existence of a liquid secondary market.  Although the Fund generally will purchase or sell only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option or at any particular time.  If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund will lose the premium it paid.  In addition, the Fund could suffer a loss if the premium paid by the Fund in a closing transaction exceeds the premium income it received.  When the Fund writes a call option, its ability to participate in the capital appreciation of the underlying obligation is limited.
 
 
B-8

 
Risks Associated With Options and Futures.  The Fund may buy and write options and purchase and sell futures contracts to hedge against declines in market value of its portfolio securities. The use of these instruments involves certain risks.  As the writer of covered call options, the Fund receives a premium but loses any opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying securities, though the premium received may partially offset such loss.

Although futures contracts may be useful in hedging against adverse changes in the value of the Fund’s investment securities, they are derivative instruments that are subject to a number of risks.  During certain market conditions, purchases and sales of futures contracts may not completely offset a decline or rise in the value of the Fund’s investments.  In the futures markets, it may not always be possible to execute a buy or sell order at the desired price, or to close out an open position due to market conditions, limits on open positions and/or daily price fluctuations.  Changes in the market value of the Fund’s investment securities may differ substantially from the changes anticipated by the Fund when it established its hedged positions, and unanticipated price movements in a futures contract may result in a loss substantially greater than the Fund’s initial investment in such a contract.

Successful use of futures contracts depends upon the Advisor’s ability to correctly predict movements in the securities markets generally or of a particular segment of a securities market.  No assurance can be given that the Advisor’s judgment in this respect will be correct.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the various exchanges have established limits referred to as “speculative position limits” on the maximum net long or net short position that any person may hold or control in a particular futures contract.  Trading limits are imposed on the number of contracts that any person may trade on a particular trading day.  An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may impose sanctions or restrictions.  These trading and positions limits will not have an adverse impact on the Fund’s strategies for hedging its securities.

Securities Lending.  The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and financial institutions (but not individuals) in order to increase the return on its portfolio.  The value of the loaned securities may not exceed one-third of the Fund’s total net assets and loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.  The Fund will not enter into any portfolio security lending arrangement having a duration of longer than one year.  The principal risk of portfolio lending is potential default or insolvency of the borrower.  In either of these cases, the Fund could experience delays in recovering securities or collateral or could lose all or part of the value of the loaned securities.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with loans of portfolio securities and may pay a portion of the interest or fee earned thereon to the borrower or a placing broker.

In determining whether or not to lend a security to a particular broker, dealer or financial institution, the Advisor considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including the size, creditworthiness and reputation of the broker, dealer or financial institution.  Any loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.  Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become part of the Fund’s investment portfolio at the time of the loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest.  During the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any accrued income on those securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income or receive an agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash-equivalent collateral.  Any fee income recurred from a borrower in lieu of a dividend payment on a borrowed security will not constitute “qualified dividend” income for federal income tax purposes, which is currently eligible for the reduced rate of taxation applicable to long-term capital gains.  While the Fund does not have the right to vote securities on loan, it would terminate the loan and regain the right to vote if that were considered important with respect to the investment.
 
 
B-9

 

NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS

Other Investment Companies.  The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, including money market mutual funds, other mutual funds or ETFs. The Fund’s investments in money market mutual funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses.  The Fund limit its investments in securities issued by other investment companies in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).  Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act precludes the Fund from acquiring (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another investment company; (ii) shares of another investment company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) shares of another registered investment company and all other investment companies having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund (such limits do not apply to investments in money market funds).  However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if: (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of such investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund has not offered or sold, and is not proposing to offer or sell its shares through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price that includes a sales load of more than 1 1/2%.

If the Fund invests in investment companies, including ETFs, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F), it must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.  In addition, an investment company purchased by the Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days.  In addition to the advisory and operational fees the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operation, the Fund will also bear its pro rata portion of the advisory and operational expenses incurred indirectly through its investments in other investment companies.

Exchange Traded Funds.  An ETF generally is an open-end investment company, unit investment trust or a portfolio of securities deposited with a depository in exchange for depository receipts.  The portfolios of ETFs generally consist of common stocks that closely track the performance and dividend yield of specific securities indices, either broad market, sector or international.  ETFs provide investors the opportunity to buy or sell throughout the day an entire portfolio of stocks in a single security.  Although index mutual funds are similar, they are generally sold and redeemed only once per day at market close.  Broad securities market index ETFs include Standard & Poor’s Depository Receipts (“SPDRs”), which are interests in a unit investment trust representing an undivided interest in a portfolio of all of the common stocks of the S&P 500 Index.

Borrowing.  The Fund may borrow to increase its portfolio holdings of securities.  The Fund will limit its borrowing to an amount not to exceed one-third of its total assets. Such borrowings may be on a secured or unsecured basis at fixed or variable rates of interest. The 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage of not less than 300% with respect to all borrowings. This allows the Fund to borrow for such purposes an amount (when taken together with any borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes as described below) equal to as much as 50% of the value of its net assets (not including such borrowings). If such asset coverage should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to dispose of some of its portfolio holdings within three days in order to reduce the Fund’s debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to dispose of assets at that time.
 
 
B-10


 
The Fund may also be deemed to be borrowing when entering into certain derivative transactions such as certain options, forwards or swap transactions.  This type of borrowing is generally referred to as economic leverage.

The use of borrowing by the Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar policies. Since substantially all of the Fund’s assets fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed by the terms of the Fund’s agreement with their lender, the asset value per share of the Fund will tend to increase more when its portfolio securities increase in value and decrease more when its portfolio securities decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if the Fund did not borrow funds. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed funds. Under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales. The interest which the Fund must pay on borrowed money, together with any additional fees to maintain a line of credit or any minimum average balances required to be maintained, are additional costs which will reduce or eliminate any net investment income and may also offset any potential capital gains. 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 the Fund compared with what it would have been without leverage.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts.  A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security on the expiration date of the contract.  An index futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made.  No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made.

When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option.  If the Fund writes a call, it assumes a short futures position.  If it writes a put, it assumes a long futures position.  When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, it acquires the right in return for the premium it pays to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put).

Whether the Fund realizes a gain or loss from futures activities depends upon movements in the underlying security or index.  The extent of the Fund’s loss from an unhedged short position in futures contracts or from writing unhedged call options on futures contracts is potentially unlimited.  The Fund only purchases and sells futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade.

No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract.  Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit “initial margin” in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.  Margin also must be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules.  Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied.  Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
 
 
B-11


 
Subsequent “variation margin” payments are made to and from the futures commission merchant daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as “marking-to-market.”  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund’s obligations to or from a futures commission merchant.  When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, the premium paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk.  In contrast, when the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements.  If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.

Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions in options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold.  Positions in futures and options on futures contracts may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.  However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time.  In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract or options position.

Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit.  Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.

If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses.  The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position.  In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain cash or liquid assets in an account.
 
Restricted Securities.   The Fund may invest in securities that are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act.  These securities are sometimes referred to as private placements.  Although securities which may be resold only to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act are technically considered “restricted securities,” the Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities without regard to the limitation on investments in illiquid securities described below in the “Illiquid Securities” section, provided that a determination is made that such securities have a readily available trading market.  The Fund does not intend to purchase certain commercial paper issued in reliance on the exemption from regulations in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.  The Advisor will determine the liquidity of Rule 144A securities under the supervision of the Board of Trustees.  The liquidity of Rule 144A securities will be monitored by the Advisor, and if as a result of changed conditions it is determined that a Rule 144A security is no longer liquid, the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities will be reviewed to determine what, if any, action is required to assure that the Fund does not exceed its applicable percentage limitation for investments in illiquid securities.
 
 
B-12


 
Limitations on the resale of restricted securities may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption requirements.  The Fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay.  Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
 
Short Sales.  The Fund may employ various hedging techniques, such as short selling in an effort to reduce the risks associated with certain of its investments.  For example, when the terms of a proposed acquisition call for the exchange of common stock and/or other securities, the common stock of the company to be acquired may be purchased and, at approximately the same time, the amount of the acquiring company’s common stock and/or other securities to be received may be sold short.  The Advisor will make any such short sale with the intention of later closing out (or covering) the short position with the securities of the acquiring company received once the acquisition is consummated.  The purpose of the short sale is to protect against a decline in the market value of the acquiring company’s securities prior to the acquisition’s completion.  However, should the acquisition be called off or otherwise not completed, the Fund may realize losses on both its long position in the target company’s shares and its short position in the acquirer’s securities.  At all times when the Fund does not own securities which are sold short, the Fund will maintain long securities available for collateral consisting of cash, cash equivalents and liquid securities equal in value on a daily marked-to-market basis to the securities sold short.

Synthetic Instruments.  The Fund may invest in synthetic instruments, which are investments that have characteristics similar to the Fund’s direct investments, and may include equity swaps, equity linked notes and structured products.  An equity-linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock or a basket of stocks.  Upon the maturity of the note, generally the holder receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities.  The terms of an equity-linked note may also provide for the periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate.  Equity-linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment objective and strategies.  The price of an equity-linked note is derived from the value of the underlying linked securities.  The level and type of risk involved in the purchase of an equity-linked note by the Fund is similar to the risk involved in the purchase of the underlying security.  Such notes therefore may be considered to have speculative elements.  However, equity-linked notes are also dependent on the individual credit of the issuer of the note, which may be a trust or other special purpose vehicle or finance subsidiary established by a major financial institution for the limited purpose of issuing the note.  Like other structured products, equity-linked notes are frequently secured by collateral consisting of a combination of debt or related equity securities to which payments under the notes are linked.  If so secured, the Fund would look to this underlying collateral for satisfaction of claims in the event that the issuer of an equity-linked note defaulted under the terms of the note.

Equity-linked notes are often privately placed and may not be rated, in which case the Fund will be more dependent on the ability of the Fund’s portfolio managers to evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer, the underlying security, any collateral features of the note, and the potential for loss due to market and other factors.  Ratings of issuers of equity-linked notes refer only to the creditworthiness of the issuer and strength of related collateral arrangements or other credit supports, and do not take into account, or attempt to rate, any potential risks of the underlying linked securities.  Depending upon the law of the jurisdiction in which an issuer is organized and the note is issued, in the event of default, the Fund may incur additional expenses in seeking recovery under an equity-linked note, and may have more limited methods of legal recourse in attempting to do so.
 
 
B-13


 
As with any investment, the Fund can lose the entire amount it has invested in an equity-linked note.  The secondary market for equity-linked notes may be limited.  The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse effect on the ability of the Fund to accurately value the equity-linked note in its portfolio, and may make disposal of such securities more difficult for the Fund.

The Fund’s use of synthetic instruments will generally be for the purpose of gaining exposure to specific markets or securities.  The principal risk of investments in synthetic instruments is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets.  Some synthetic instruments are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations than others.  While the Fund may invest in synthetic instruments, the Fund is restricted to investing no more than 15% of its total assets in securities (of any type) that are illiquid: that is, not readily marketable.

U.S. Government Obligations.  The Fund may invest in various types of U.S. Government obligations.  U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury.  Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself.  In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned.  There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so.

Variable-, Adjustable- And Floating-Rate Securities.  Variable-rate securities provide for automatic establishment of a new interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, monthly, semi-annually, etc.).  Adjustments of interest rates of mortgages underlying adjustable rate mortgage-related securities (“ARMs”) usually are determined in accordance with a predetermined interest rate index and may be subject to certain limits.  Floating-rate securities generally provide for automatic adjustment of the interest rate whenever some specified interest rate index changes.  The interest rate on variable-, adjustable, or floating-rate securities is ordinarily determined by reference to or is a percentage of a banks prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank certificates of deposit, an index of short-term interest rates or some other objective measure.

Variable-, adjustable- and floating-rate securities frequently include a demand feature entitling the holder to sell the securities to the issuer at par. In many cases, the demand feature can be exercised at any time on seven days notice; in other cases, the demand feature is exercisable at any time on 30 days notice or on similar notice at intervals of not more than one year. Some securities that do not have variable or floating interest rates may be accompanied by puts producing similar results and price characteristics.

Variable-rate demand notes include master demand notes that are obligations that permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts, which may change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Fund, as lender, and the borrower.  The interest rates on these notes fluctuate from time to time.  The issuer of such obligations normally has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the outstanding principal amount of the obligations plus accrued interest upon a specified number of days notice to the holders of such obligations. The interest rate on a floating-rate demand obligation is based on a known lending rate, such as a banks prime rate, and is adjusted automatically each time such rate is adjusted.  The interest rate on a variable-rate demand obligation is adjusted automatically at specified intervals.  Frequently, such obligations are secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements provided by banks.  Because these obligations are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower, it is not contemplated that such instruments will generally be traded.  There generally is not an established secondary market for these obligations, although they are redeemable at face value.  Accordingly, where the obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, the Fund’s right to redeem is dependent on the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on demand.  Such obligations frequently are not rated by credit rating agencies and, if not so rated, the Fund may invest in them subject to the Fund’s investment policy of not investing more than 20% of its net assets in below-investment grade securities.
 
 
B-14


 
In addition, each variable-, adjustable- and floating-rate obligation must meet the credit quality requirements applicable to all the Fund’s investments at the time of purchase.  When determining whether such an obligation meets the Fund’s credit quality requirements, the Fund may look to the credit quality of the financial guarantor providing a letter of credit or other credit support arrangement.

Warrants.  The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in warrants.  A warrant gives the holder a right to purchase at any time during a specified period a predetermined number of shares of common stock at a fixed price.  Unlike convertible debt securities or preferred stock, warrants do not pay a fixed coupon or dividend.  Investments in warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale of the warrants, potential price fluctuations as a result of speculation or other factors, and failure of the price of the underlying security to reach or have reasonable prospects of reaching a level at which the warrant can be prudently exercised (in which event the warrant may expire without being exercised, resulting in a loss of the Fund’s entire investment therein).
 
When-Issued Securities. The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell particular securities with payment and delivery taking place at a future date, and permit the Fund to lock in a price or yield on a security it owns or intends to purchase, regardless of future changes in interest rates or market action. No income accrues to the purchaser of a security on a when-issued basis prior to delivery. Such securities are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. Purchasing a security on a when-issued basis can involve a risk that the market price at the time of delivery may be lower than the agreed-upon purchase price, in which case there could be an unrealized loss at the time of delivery. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities but may sell them before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.

Zero-Coupon Bonds.  The Fund may invest up to 10% of net assets in zero-coupon bonds.  Zero-coupon securities make no periodic interest payments, but are sold at a deep discount from their face value.  The buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date.  The discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity, as well as market interest rates, liquidity of the security, and the issuer’s perceived credit quality.  If the issuer defaults, the holder may not receive any return on its investment.  Because zero-coupon securities bear no interest and compound semiannually at the rate fixed at the time of issuance, their value generally is more volatile than the value of other fixed-income securities.  Since zero-coupon bondholders do not receive interest payments, when interest rates rise, zero-coupon securities fall more dramatically in value than bonds paying interest on a current basis.  When interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities rise more rapidly in value because the bonds reflect a fixed rate of return.  An investment in zero-coupon and delayed interest securities may cause the Fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on its investment.

Illiquid Securities.  The Fund does not intend to invest in illiquid securities and is limited by its restrictions to investing only up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid at the time of purchase, which means that there may be legal or contractual restrictions on their disposition, or that there are no readily available market quotations for such a security.  Illiquid securities present the risks that the Fund may have difficulty valuing these holdings and/or may be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price desired.  There are generally no restrictions on the Fund’s ability to invest in restricted securities (that is, securities that are not registered pursuant to the Securities Act), except to the extent such securities may be considered illiquid.  Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act will be considered liquid if determined to be so under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.  The Advisor is responsible for making the determination as to the liquidity of restricted securities (pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees).
 
B-15


 
The Fund will determine a security to be illiquid if it cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at the value at which the Fund has valued the security.  Factors considered in determining whether a security is illiquid may include, but are not limited to: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase and sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; the number of dealers who undertake to make a market in the security; the nature of the security, including whether it is registered or unregistered, and the market place; whether the security has been rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”); the period of time remaining until the maturity of a debt instrument or until the principal amount of a demand instrument can be recovered through demand; the nature of any restrictions on resale; and with respect to municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation, there is reasonable assurance that the obligation will remain liquid throughout the time the obligation is held and, if unrated, an analysis similar to that which would be performed by an NRSRO is performed.  If a restricted security is determined to be liquid, it will not be included within the category of illiquid securities, which may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets.  Investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of the Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that the Fund, at a particular point in time may be unable to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing the securities.  The Fund is permitted to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.

Temporary and Cash Investments.  Under normal market conditions, the Fund will stay fully invested according to its principal investment strategies as noted above.  The Fund, however, may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by making short-term investments in cash, cash equivalents, and high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions.  This may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objectives during that period.

For longer periods of time, the Fund may hold a substantial cash position.  If the market advances during periods when the Fund is holding a large cash position, the Fund may not participate to the extent it would have if the Fund had been more fully invested.  To the extent that the Fund uses a money market fund for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s advisory fees and operational expenses.
 
 
B-16


 
Fundamental Investment Limitations
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable vote of the holders of a “majority,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.  Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

The Fund may not:

1.
issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); and (ii) this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from engaging in options transactions or short sales in accordance with its objectives and strategies;

2.
underwrite the securities of other issuers (except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act);

3.
purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies that invest or deal in real estate);

4.
purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon or investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

5.
make loans of money (except for the lending of its portfolio securities and purchases of debt securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund);

6.
with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase the securities of any one issuer if, immediately after and as a result of such purchase, (a) the value of the Fund’s holdings in the securities of such issuer exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, or (b) the Fund owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer (this restriction does not apply to investments in the securities of the U.S. Government, or its agencies or instrumentalities, or other investment companies);

7.
invest in the securities of any one industry if as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such industry, except that (a) the foregoing does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

The following lists the non-fundamental investment restrictions applicable to the Fund.  These restrictions can be changed by the Board of Trustees, but the change will only be effective after written notice is given to shareholders of the Fund.
 
 
B-17


 
The Fund may not:

1.
with respect to Fundamental Investment Limitation 1 above, the Fund will not purchase portfolio securities while outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of its assets; or

2.
invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets, computed at the time of investment, in illiquid securities.  Illiquid securities are those securities without readily available market quotations, including repurchase agreements having a maturity of more than seven days.  Illiquid securities may include restricted securities not determined by the Board of Trustees to be liquid, non-negotiable time deposits, over-the-counter options, and repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after notice.

Except with respect to borrowing, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.

Management of the Fund

Board of Trustees
The management and affairs of the Fund are supervised by the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees consists of three individuals.  The Trustees are fiduciaries for the Fund’s shareholders and are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware in this regard.  The Board of Trustees establishes policies for the operation of the Fund and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Fund.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years.

Name, Address and
Age
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Number of
Portfolios in
Trust
Overseen by
Trustee
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five
Years
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
Independent Trustees
     
Dr. Michael D. Akers
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 53
Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since August 22, 2001
21
Professor of Accounting, Marquette University (2004-present); Associate Professor of Accounting, Marquette University (1996-2004).
Independent Trustee, USA MUTUALS (an open-end investment company with two portfolios).
Gary A. Drska
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 51
Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since August 22, 2001
21
Captain, Midwest Airlines, Inc. (airline company) (2000-present); Director, Flight Standards & Training (July 1990-December 1999).
Independent Trustee, USA MUTUALS (an open-end investment company with two portfolios).
 
 
B-18


 
Interested Trustee and Officers
     
Joseph C. Neuberger*
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 46
Chair-person, President and Treasurer/   Principal Accounting Officer and Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since August 22, 2001
21
Executive Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (1994-present).
Director/Trustee, Buffalo Funds (an open-end investment company with ten portfolios); Trustee, USA MUTUALS (an open-end investment company with two portfolios).
John Buckel
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI
53202
Age: 50
Vice President
Indefinite Term, Since January 10, 2008
N/A
Mutual Fund Administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2004-Present); Mutual Fund Administrator, United Missouri Bank (2000-2004)
N/A
Kathleen Osland
615 East Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 29
 
Chief Compliance Officer
Indefinite Term; Since August 1, 2006
N/A
Counsel, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (May 2005 – present); Associate Counsel, Urban & Taylor, S.C. (2003-2005).
N/A
Rachel A. Spearo
615 East Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 28
Secretary
Indefinite Term; Since November 15, 2005
N/A
Counsel, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (September 2004-present).
N/A
* Mr. Neuberger is an “interested person” of the Trust as defined by the 1940 Act.  Mr. Neuberger is an interested person of the Trust by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Fund’s principal underwriter.

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
As of the date of this SAI, no Trustee, including the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, beneficially owned shares of the Fund.  Furthermore, neither the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund, nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially, or of record, in the Advisor, the Fund’s distributor or any of its affiliates.  Accordingly, neither the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund nor members of their immediate family, have a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Advisor, the Fund’s distributor or any of their affiliates.

Board Committees

Audit Committee.  The Trust has an Audit Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Michael D. Akers and Mr. Gary A. Drska.  The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Fund.  The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Fund’s independent auditor concerning the scope of the audit and the auditor’s independence.
 
 
B-19


 
Nomination Committee.  The Trust has a Nomination Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Michael D. Akers and Mr. Gary A. Drska.  The Nomination Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary.  There are no policies in place regarding nominees recommended by shareholders.

Valuation Committee.  The Trust has a Valuation Committee.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for the following: (1) monitoring the valuation of Fund securities and other investments; and (2) as required, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, determining the fair value of illiquid securities and other holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations are reported to the Board of Trustees.  The Valuation Committee is currently comprised of Mr. Neuberger and Mr. John Buckel, who serve as officers of the Trust, and Ms. Jennifer Lima.  The Valuation Committee meets as necessary when a price is not readily available.

As the Fund is new, none of the Trust’s Committees have met with respect to the Fund.

Trustee Compensation
For their service as trustees, the independent trustees receive a retainer fee of $10,000 per year and $1,000* per board meeting from the Trust for all funds contained in the Trust, as well as reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at board meetings.  Interested trustees do not receive any compensation for their service as trustees.  Because the Fund has recently commenced operations, the following compensation figures represent estimates for the Trust’s current fiscal year ending May 31, 2009:

Name of
Person/Position
Aggregate
Compensation
From the
Fund**
Pension or Retirement
Benefits Accrued as Part of
Fund Expenses
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
Total
Compensation
from Fund and
Fund Complex***
Paid to
Trustees
Dr. Michael D. Akers,
Trustee
$635
None
None
$14,000
Gary A. Drska,
Trustee
$635
None
None
$14,000
Joseph C. Neuberger,
Trustee
None
None
None
None
 
*
As of July 1, 2008, the Independent Trustees will receive a retainer fee of $15,000 per year, $1,000 per in-person Board meeting and $500 per Board meeting via telephone.
 
**   Estimated for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2009.
 
*** There are currently twenty other portfolios comprising the Trust.  The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Fund.  For informational purposes, however, these figures represent payments from the entire Trust based on estimates for the current fiscal year ending May 31, 2009.

Investment Advisor
As stated in the Prospectus, investment advisory services are provided to the Fund by the Advisor, Schooner Investment Group, LLC, located at Radnor Financial Center 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-200, Radnor, PA 19087, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”).  Mr. Greg Levinson, the Managing Member of the Advisor and Portfolio Manager of the Fund, owns over 25% of the Advisor, and therefore is a control person of the Advisor.
 
 
B-20


 
After an initial two-year period, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on not more than 60 days’, nor less than 30 days’, written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, or by the Advisor on not more than 60 days’, nor less than 30 days’, written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).  The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor under such agreement shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder.

In consideration of the services provided by the Advisor pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to receive from the Fund an investment advisory fee at the annual rate of 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable on a monthly basis.  However, the Advisor may voluntarily agree to waive a portion of the fees payable to it on a month-to-month basis, including additional fees above and beyond any written agreement the Advisor may have to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses.

Fund Expenses.  The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses.  The Advisor has agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Fund and/or to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses (excluding brokerage and commission expenses, interest and tax expenses, Distribution Fees and extraordinary and non-recurring expenses) to the limit set forth in the “Expense Table” of the Prospectus.  Any such reductions made by the Advisor in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to reimbursement by the Fund to the Advisor, if so requested by the Advisor, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses.  The Advisor is permitted to be reimbursed only for fee reductions and expense payments made in the previous three fiscal years from the date the expense was incurred.  Any such reimbursement is also contingent upon the Board of Trustees’ subsequent review and ratification of the reimbursed amounts.  Such reimbursement may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses.

Portfolio Manager
As stated in the Prospectus, Mr. Greg Levinson is the portfolio managers of the Fund (“the Portfolio Manager”).  The Portfolio Manger is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
 
B-21


 
The following provides information regarding other accounts managed by Mr. Levinson as of March 31, 2008:

Category of Account
Total Number of
Accounts Managed
Total Assets in Accounts
Managed
Number of
Accounts for
which Advisory
Fee is Based on
Performance
Assets in
Accounts for
which Advisory
Fee is Based on
Performance
Other Registered
Investment Companies
[$ X]
[$ X]
[$ X]
[$ X]
Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
[$ X]
[$ X]
[$ X]
[$ X]
Other Accounts
[$ X]
[$ X]
[$ X]
[$ X]

The Advisor currently serves as the trading advisor and general partner for a private limited partnership that may use investment strategies that are similar to those of the Fund.  Accordingly, the Advisor expects that conflicts of interest in allocating investment opportunities may occasionally arise.  The Advisor has adopted trade aggregation procedures to ensure that in allocating investments the distribution of investment opportunities is made in a manner that is fair and equitable to all clients, including the Fund.

The Portfolio Manager’s compensation consists of a fixed cash salary and bonus that is based on industry standards.

As the Fund was not operational prior to the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Manager does not own any securities in the Fund.

Service Providers
Pursuant to an Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (the “Administrator” or “USBFS”), acts as administrator for the Fund.  The Administrator provides certain administrative services to the Fund, including, among other responsibilities: coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparation for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Fund with applicable laws and regulations excluding those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including net asset value and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund, and providing, at its own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out its duties.  In this capacity, the Administrator does not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares.  Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, for its services, the Administrator receives from the Fund a fee computed daily and payable monthly based on the Fund’s average net assets at the rate of 0.12% of average net assets on the first $50 million, 0.08% of average net assets on the next $250 million, and 0.05% on the balance, all subject to an annual minimum fee of $30,000.  USBFS also serves as fund accountant, transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and dividend disbursing agent to the Fund under separate agreements.
 
The Custodian is an affiliate of USBFS and is the custodian of the assets of the Fund pursuant to a custody agreement between the Custodian and the Trust, whereby the Custodian charges fees on a transactional basis plus out-of-pocket expenses.  The Custodian’s address is 1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, WI 53212.  The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund.  The Custodian and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with the service providers of mutual funds in which the Fund may invest.
 
 
B-22


 
Legal Counsel
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., 780 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 serves as counsel to the Fund.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
__________________________, has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund.

Distribution of Fund Shares
The Trust has entered into a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Quasar Distributors, LLC, 615 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (the “Distributor”), pursuant to which the Distributor acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter, provides certain administration services and promotes and arranges for the sale of the Fund’s shares.  The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous.  The Distributor, the Administrator and the Custodian are affiliated companies.  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party.  The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Distribution Plan
As noted in the Prospectus, the Fund has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Distribution Plan”) on behalf of the Fund.  Under the Distribution Plan, the Fund pays a fee to the Fund’s distributor for distribution services (the “Distribution Fee”) for Class A and Class C shares at an annual rate of 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively, of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares and Class C shares, respectively. The Class C fees represent a 0.75% 12b-1 distribution fee and a 0.25% shareholders servicing fee.   The Distribution Plan provides that the Fund’s distributor may use all or any portion of such Distribution Fee to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares, subject to the terms of the Distribution Plan, or to provide certain shareholder services.  Class I shares of the Fund are not subject to a Distribution Fee.

The Distribution Fee is payable to the Fund’s distributor regardless of the distribution-related expenses actually incurred.  Because the Distribution Fee is not directly tied to expenses, the amount of distribution fees paid by the Fund during any year may be more or less than actual expenses incurred pursuant to the Distribution Plan.  For this reason, this type of distribution fee arrangement is characterized by the staff of the SEC as a “compensation” plan.

The Fund’s distributor may use the Distribution Fee to pay for services covered by the Distribution Plan including, but not limited to, advertising, compensating underwriters, dealers and selling personnel engaged in the distribution of Fund shares, the printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports to other than current Fund shareholders, the printing and mailing of sales literature pertaining to the Fund, and obtaining whatever information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable.
 
 
B-23


 
The Distribution Plan provides that it will continue from year to year upon approval by the majority vote of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Plan or in any agreement related to such plan (the “Qualified Trustees”), as required by the 1940 Act, currently cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose.  It is also required that the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, select and nominate all other trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund.  The Distribution Plan and any related agreements may not be amended to materially increase the amounts to be spent for distribution expenses without approval of shareholders holding a majority of the Fund shares outstanding.  All material amendments to the Distribution Plan or any related agreements must be approved by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees and the Qualified Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on any such amendment.

The Distribution Plan requires that the Fund’s distributor provide to the Board of Trustees, at least quarterly, a written report on the amounts and purpose of any payment made under the Distribution Plan.  The Fund’s distributor is also required to furnish the Board of Trustees with such other information as may reasonably be requested in order to enable the Board of Trustees to make an informed determination of whether the Distribution Plan should be continued.  With the exception of the Advisor, no “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, and no Qualified Trustee of the Fund has or had a direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Plan or any related agreement.

As noted above, the Distribution Plan provides for the ability to use Fund assets to pay financial intermediaries (including those that sponsor mutual fund supermarkets), plan administrators and other service providers to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares (distribution services).  The payments made by the Fund to these financial intermediaries are based primarily on the dollar amount of assets invested in the Fund through the financial intermediaries.  These financial intermediaries may pay a portion of the payments that they receive from the Fund to their investment professionals.  In addition to the ongoing asset-based fees paid to these financial intermediaries under the Fund’s Distribution Plan, the Fund may, from time to time, make payments under the Distribution Plan that help defray the expenses incurred by these intermediaries for conducting training and educational meetings about various aspects of the Fund for their employees.  In addition, the Fund may make payments under the Distribution Plan for exhibition space and otherwise help defray the expenses these financial intermediaries incur in hosting client seminars where the Fund is discussed.

To the extent these asset-based fees and other payments made under the Distribution Plan to these financial intermediaries for the distribution services they provide to the Fund’s shareholders exceed the Distribution Fees available, these payments are made by the Advisor from its own resources, which may include its profits from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund.  In addition, the Fund may participate in various “fund supermarkets” in which a mutual fund supermarket sponsor (usually a broker-dealer) offers many mutual funds to the sponsor’s customers without charging the customers a sales charge.  In connection with its participation in such platforms, the Advisor may use all or a portion of the Distribution Fee to pay one or more supermarket sponsors a negotiated fee for distributing the Fund’s shares.  In addition, in its discretion, the Advisor may pay additional fees to such intermediaries from its own assets.
 
 
B-24


 
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor determines which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions.  Purchases and sales of securities in the over-the-counter market will generally be executed directly with a “market-maker” unless, in the opinion of the Advisor, a better price and execution can otherwise be obtained by using a broker for the transaction.

Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund will be effected through broker-dealers (including banks) that specialize in the types of securities that the Fund will be holding, unless better executions are available elsewhere.  Dealers usually act as principal for their own accounts.  Purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and the asked price.  If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer that has provided research or other services as discussed below.

In placing portfolio transactions, the Advisor will use reasonable efforts to choose broker-dealers capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable price and execution available.  The full range and quality of services available will be considered in making these determinations, such as the size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of the firm involved, the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities and other factors.  In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price and execution available, consideration may be given to those broker-dealers that furnish or supply research and statistical information to the Advisor that it may lawfully and appropriately use in its investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other services in addition to execution services.  The Advisor considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Advisory Agreement with the Fund, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value.  Portfolio transactions may be placed with broker-dealers who sell shares of the Funds subject to rules adopted by FINRA and the SEC.  Portfolio transactions may also be placed with broker-dealers in which the Advisor has invested on behalf of the Fund and/or client accounts.

While it is the Fund’s general policy to first seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services to the Fund or to the Advisor, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Advisor in advising other clients.  In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Advisor to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer.  The standard of reasonableness is to be measured in light of the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the Fund.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other client accounts.  Nevertheless, it is possible that at times identical securities will be acceptable for both the Fund and one or more of such client accounts.  In such event, the position of the Fund and such client account(s) in the same issuer may vary and the length of time that each may choose to hold its investment in the same issuer may likewise vary.  However, to the extent any of these client accounts seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a portion of such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security.  Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time.  If one or more of such client accounts simultaneously purchases or sells the same security that the Fund is purchasing or selling, each day’s transactions in such security will be allocated between the Fund and all such client accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Advisor, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts and the amount being purchased or sold.  It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned.  In other cases, however, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for the Fund.  Notwithstanding the above, the Advisor may execute buy and sell orders for accounts and take action in performance of its duties with respect to any of its accounts that may differ from actions taken with respect to another account, so long as the Advisor shall, to the extent practical, allocate investment opportunities to accounts, including the Fund, over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis and in accordance with applicable law.
 
 
B-25


 
The Trust is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” that the Fund has acquired during its most recent fiscal year.  The Trust is also required to identify any brokerage transactions during its most recent fiscal year that were directed to a broker because of research services provided, along with the amount of any such transactions and any related commissions paid by the Fund.  As the Fund is new, as of the date of the SAI there are no such transactions or brokerage commissions to report.

Portfolio Turnover
Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investment considerations warrant such action.  Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year.  A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year.  A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to above-average transaction costs and could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income rates (up to 35%).  The Advisor estimates that the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund will be approximately 250%.

Code of Ethics
The Fund, the Advisor and the Distributor have each adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act.  These Codes permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of the Advisor and Distributor to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

Proxy Voting Procedures
The Board of Trustees has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policies”) wherein the Trust has delegated to the Advisor the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund as part of its investment advisory services, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Board of Trustees.  The Proxy Voting Policies of the Advisor are attached as Appendix B.  Notwithstanding this delegation of responsibilities, however, the Fund retains the right to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities.  The fundamental purpose of the Proxy Policies is to ensure that each vote will be in a manner that reflects the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders, taking into account the value of the Fund’s investments.

The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free, (800) SEC-0330 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 
 
B-26


 
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program
The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”).  To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to: determining that the Distributor and the Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures; reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity; and a complete and thorough review of all new account applications.  The Fund will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.

As a result of the Program, the Fund may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Fund may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

Portfolio Holdings Information
The Trust on behalf of the Fund has adopted portfolio holdings disclosure policies (“Portfolio Holdings Policies”) that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund.  The Advisor has also adopted the Portfolio Holdings Policies.  Information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except in accordance with these Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Advisor and the Board of Trustees considered the circumstances under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed under the Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Advisor and the Board of Trustees also considered actual and potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and the interests of the Advisor, Distributor or any other affiliated person of the Fund.  After due consideration, the Advisor and the Board of Trustees determined that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to persons described in the Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Board of Trustees also authorized the Advisor or appointed officers to consider and authorize dissemination of portfolio holdings information to additional parties, after considering the best interests of the shareholders and potential conflicts of interest in making such disclosures.

The Board of Trustees exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Portfolio Holdings Policies, codes of ethics and other relevant policies of the Fund and its service providers by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), (2) by considering reports and recommendations by the CCO concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act), and (3) by considering the approval of any amendment to these Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Board of Trustees reserves the right to amend the Portfolio Holdings Policies at any time without prior notice in its sole discretion.
 
 
B-27


 
Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  These reports are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The Advisor may not receive compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio securities.  In the event of a conflict between the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Advisor or an affiliated person of the Advisor, the CCO of the Advisor, in consultation with the Trust’s CCO, shall make a determination in the best interests of the Fund, and shall report such determination to the Board of Trustees at the end of the quarter in which such determination was made.  Any employee of the Advisor who suspects a breach of this obligation must report the matter immediately to the Advisor’s CCO or to his or her supervisor.

In addition, material non-public holdings information may be provided without lag as part of the normal investment activities of the Fund to each of the following entities which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the Fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed: the Administrator; the Fund’s accountant; the Custodian; the Transfer Agent; the Fund’s independent auditor; counsel to the Fund or the trustees (current parties are identified in this SAI); broker-dealers (in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities); and regulatory authorities.  Portfolio holdings information not publicly available with the SEC may only be provided to additional third parties, in accordance with the Portfolio Holdings Policies, when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose, and the third party recipient is subject to a confidentiality agreement.  Portfolio holdings information may be separately provided to any person, including rating and ranking organizations such as Lipper and Morningstar, at the same time that it is filed with the SEC or one day after it is first published on the Fund’s website.  Portfolio holdings disclosure may be approved under the Portfolio Holdings Policies by the Trust’s CCO, Treasurer or President.

In no event shall the Advisor, its affiliates or employees, or the Fund receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Holdings Policies and these procedures will protect the Fund from potential misuse of that information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.

Determination of Net Asset Value
The NAV of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate and is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) each business day.  The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading.  The most recent announcement indicates that it will not be open on the following days: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  However, the NYSE may close on days not included in that announcement.

The NAV per share is computed by dividing the value of the securities held by the Fund plus any cash or other assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares in the Fund outstanding at such time.
 
Net Assets
=
Net Asset Value Per Share
Shares Outstanding
 
 
B-28


 
Generally, the Fund’s investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of a market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by the Advisor and the Trust’s Valuation Committee pursuant to procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

The Fund’s securities, including depositary receipts, which are traded on securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and asked price.

Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Advisor to be the primary market.  Securities primarily traded on the NASDAQ stock market (“NASDAQ”) shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”).  If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices.  OTC securities that are not traded on NASDAQ shall be valued at the most recent trade price.

Short-term debt obligations with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are valued at current market prices, as discussed above.  Short-term debt obligations with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are, unless conditions indicate otherwise, amortized to maturity based on their cost to the Fund if acquired within 60 days of maturity or, if already held by the Fund on the 60th day, based on the value determined on the 61st day.

An option that is written by the Fund is generally valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of the last sale price, the average of the quoted bid and asked prices.  An option that is purchased by the Fund is generally valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of the last sale price, the average of the quoted bid and asked prices.  If an options exchange closes after the time at which the Fund’s net asset value is calculated, the last sale or the mean of the last bid and asked prices as of that time will be used to calculate the net asset value.

All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board of Trustees in good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares
Detailed information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares can be found in the Fund’s Prospectus.

Purchase of Shares
Shares of the Fund are sold in a continuous offering and may be purchased on any business day through authorized investment dealers, as described in the Prospectus, or directly from the Fund.  The Fund may authorize one or more brokers to accept purchase orders on a shareholder’s behalf.  Brokers are authorized to designate intermediaries to accept orders on the Fund’s behalf.  An order is deemed to be received when an authorized broker or agent accepts the order.

Orders received by dealers other than authorized brokers or agents by the close of trading on the NYSE on a business day that are transmitted to the Fund by 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on that day will be effected at the NAV per share determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.  Otherwise, the orders will be processed at the next determined price.  It is the dealer’s responsibility to transmit orders so that they will be received by the Fund before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.
 
 
B-29


 
The purchase of shares may be subject to a sales charge, depending on the Class and the amount of shares purchased:

Class A Shares.
If you purchase Class A shares of the Fund you will pay an initial sales charge of 4.75% when you invest unless you qualify for a reduction or waiver of the sales charge, as described in the Prospectus.  The sales charge for the Fund is calculated as follows*:

When you invest this amount
% of offering price*
% of net
$0-$49,999.99
4.75%
%
$50,000-$99,999.99
4.25%
%
$100,000-$249,999.99
3.50%
%
$250,000-$499,999.99
2.50%
%
$500,000-$999,999.99
2.00%
%
$1,000,000 or more
None
%
* The dollar amount of the sales charge is the lessor of the offering price or net asset value (“NAV”) at the time the sales load is paid.  Since the offering price is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria, the number of shares purchased and the dollar amount of the sales charge as a percentage of the offering price and of your net investment may be higher or lower depending on whether there was a downward or upward rounding.
 
The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Fund’s Class A shares, has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to pay distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to its shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. The distribution plan for Class A shares provides for payments of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class A shares
 
Class C Shares
Class C shares have no front-end sales charge.  Class C shares have a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for any shares redeemed within one year of purchase. The CDSC on Class C shares is based on the current value of the shares being sold or their NAV when purchased, whichever is less.  To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a request to sell shares, we will first sell any shares in your account that are not subject to a CDSC.  If there are not enough of these shares to meet your request, we will sell the shares in the order that they were purchased.

The CDSC applicable to the redemption of certain Class C shares will be waived for:

·  
shares redeemed by employees of the Advisor;
 
·  
the redemption of Class C shares held for more than one year after purchase;
 
·  
certain  redemptions for which the CDSC must be waived by law; and
 
·  
other circumstances at the Advisor’s discretion.
 
For the CDSC to be waived as described above, a shareholder must notify his/her financial intermediary, the Fund or the Transfer Agent prior to submitting a redemption order.
 
Class C shares do not convert into class A shares.  No order for Class C shares may exceed $1,000,000. The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Fund’s Class C shares, has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to pay distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to its shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. The distribution plan for Class C shares provides for payments of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Class C shares.
 
 
B-30


 
Class I Shares
Sales of the Fund’s Class I shares are not subject to a front-end sales charge or a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee. Class I shares are only available to corporations or other institutions such as trusts, endowments, foundations, broker-dealers purchasing for the accounts of others and certain other investors at the Advisor’s discretion. If you purchase Class I shares through an institutional organization, you may be charged a transaction-based fee or other fee for the services of such organization.  Class I is expected to open to investors for the purchase of shares on or befored August 1, 2009.

Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers

Rights of Accumulation.  You may combine your current purchase of Class A shares with other existing Fund shares currently owned for the purpose of qualifying for the lower initial sales charge rates that apply to larger purchases.  The applicable sales charge for the new purchase is based on the total of your current purchase and the current NAV of all other shares you own at the financial intermediary at which you are making the current purchase.  You may not aggregate shares held at different fianancial intermediaries.  If the current purchase is made directly through the Transfer Agent, only those shares held directly at the Transfer Agent may apply toward the right of accumulation.  You may aggregate shares that you own, and that are currently owned by family members including spouses, minor children or parents at the same address.  Shares held in the name of a nominee or custodian under pension, profit sharing or employee benefit plans may not be combined with other shares to qualify for the right of accumulation.  You must notify the Transfer Agent or your financial intermediary at the time of purchase in order for the right of accumulation to apply.  The Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate this right at any time.

Reinstatement Privilege.  If you redeem Class A shares of the Fund, and within 60 days purchase and register new Class A Fund shares, you will not pay a sales charge on the new purchase amount.  The amount eligible for this privilege may not exceed the amount of your redemption proceeds.  To exercise this privilege, contact your financial intermediary.

Letter of Intent.  By signing a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) you can reduce your Class A sales charge.  Your individual purchases will be made at the applicable sales charge based on the amount you intend to invest over a 13-month period.  The LOI will apply to all purchases of Class A shares.  Any shares purchased within 90 days of the date you sign the letter of intent may be used as credit toward completion, but the reduced sales charge will only apply to new purchases made on or after that date.  Purchases resulting from the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains do not apply toward fulfillment of the LOI.  Shares equal to 4.75% of the amount of the LOI will be held in escrow during the 13-month period.  If at the end of that time the total amount of purchases made is less than the amount intended, you will be required to pay the difference between the reduced sales charge and the sales charge applicable to the individual purchases had the LOI not been in effect.  This amount will be obtained from redemption of the escrow shares.  Any remaining escrow shares will be released to you.
 
 
B-31


 
Sales Charge Waivers.  Sales charges for Class A shares may be waived under certain circumstances for some investors or for certain payments.  You will not have to pay a sales charge on purchases of Class A shares if you are any of the following persons:


(a) any investor buying shares through a wrap account or other investment program whereby the investor pays the investment professional directly for services;
 
(b) any trust created under a pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plan (including qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans), where such plan has at least $1,000,000 in assets or 100 employees, or where the administrator for such plan acts as the administrator for qualified employee benefit plans with assets of at least $1,000,000;
 
(c) any company exchanging shares with the Fund pursuant to a merger, acquisition or exchange offer;
 
(d) any investor, including any investment company, that has entered into an investment advisory agreement or other agreement with the Advisor or its affiliates;
 
(e) any insurance company separate account;
 
(f) any current or retired trustee of the Trust, or any registered investment company where the Advisor acts as the sole investment Advisor; or any associated trust, person, profit sharing or other benefit plan of such current or retired trustee;
 
(g) any employee of the Advisor, the Funds’ distributor, its affiliates or other entity with a selling group agreement with the Advisor and its employees, subject to the internal policies and procedures of such entity;
 
(h) any member of the immediate family of a person qualifying under (f) or (g), including a spouse, child, stepchild, parent, sibling, grandparent and grandchild and UTMA accounts naming qualifying persons, in each case including in-law and adoptive relationships;
 
(i) any retirement (not including IRA accounts) and deferred compensation plans and the trusts used to fund such plans (including, but not limited to, those defined in Sections 401(k), 403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code and “rabbi trusts”), for which an affiliate of the Advisor acts as trustee or administrator,
 
(j) any 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans, and profit sharing and pension plans that invest $1 million or more or have more than 100 participants, and

(k) any qualified registered investment advisor who buy through a broker-dealer or service agent who has entered into an agreement with the Fund’s distributor that allows for load-waived Advisor Class A purchases.

Purchase Requests Must be Received in Good Order
Your share price will be the next NAV per share calculated after the Transfer Agent or your Authorized Intermediary receives your purchase request in good order.  “Good order” means that your purchase request includes:

·      
the name of the Fund;
·      
the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;
·      
your account application or investment stub; and
·      
a check payable to “Schooner Growth and Income Fund.”

All purchase requests received in good order before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day.  Purchase requests received after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will receive the next business day’s NAV per share.
 
 
B-32


 
Redemption of Shares
To redeem shares, shareholders may send a written request in “good order” to:

Schooner Growth and Income Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI  53201-0701
866-724-5997

A redemption request will be deemed in “good order” if it includes:

·      
the shareholder’s name;
·      
the name of the Fund;
·      
the account number;
·      
the share or dollar amount to be redeemed; and
·      
signatures by all shareholders on the account (with signature(s) guaranteed if applicable).

Redemption proceeds will be sent to the address of record.  If the redemption proceeds are requested to be sent to an address other than the address of record, or if the address of record has been changed within 15 days of the redemption request, the request must be in writing with your signature guaranteed.  Signature guarantees can be obtained from banks and securities dealers, but not from a notary public.  The Fund will not be responsible for interest lost on redemption amounts due to lost or misdirected mail.

A signature guarantee of each owner is required in the following situations:

·      
if ownership is changed on your account;
·      
when redemption proceeds are sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;
·      
written requests to wire redemption proceeds (if not previously authorized on the account);
·      
if a change of address request was received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 days;
·      
for all written redemptions in excess of $50,000 from any shareholder account; or
·      
when establishing or modifying certain services on an account.

In addition to the situations described above, the Fund and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to require a signature guarantee in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular situation.

The Fund does not accept signatures authenticated by a notary public.

The Fund and the Transfer Agent have adopted standards for accepting signature guarantees from banks and securities dealers.  The Fund may elect in the future to limit eligible signature guarantors to institutions that are members of a signature guarantee program.  The Fund and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to amend these standards at any time without notice.
 
 
B-33


 
Redemption Fee
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund will assess a 2.00% fee on redemptions of shares that are held for less than 7 days. In determining whether a redemption fee will be imposed, it will be assumed that the redemption is made on shares that have been held the longest.  This is commonly referred to as “first-in, first-out.”  This will result in you paying the lowest redemption fee possible or no redemption fee at all. This fee will not be imposed on Fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of distributions and may not be applicable to certain qualified accounts held by financial intermediaries, as well as under other circumstances. The Fund reserves the right to change the terms and amount of this fee upon at least 60 days’ notice to shareholders.

Redemption-in-Kind
The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash.  The Trust, however, has filed a notice of election under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to redeem in-kind redemption requests of a certain amount.  Specifically, if the amount you are redeeming during any 90-day period is in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund, valued at the beginning of such period, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund in securities instead of cash.  If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash, and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash.

Tax Matters
Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.  The Fund, as a series of the Trust, intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, provided it complies with all applicable requirements regarding the source of its income, diversification of its assets and timing of distributions.  The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its net investment company taxable income and any net realized long-term capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes based on net income.  However, the Fund can give no assurances that its anticipated distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.  If the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be taxed as a corporation.  If the Fund fails to distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) at least 98% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12-month period ending on October 31 during such year and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax, the Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax.

Net investment income generally consists of interest, dividends and short-term capital gains, less expenses.  Net realized capital gains for a fiscal period are computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund.

Distributions of net investment income are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.  For individual shareholders, a portion of the distributions paid by the Fund may consist of qualified dividends eligible for taxation at the rate currently applicable to long-term capital gains to the extent the Fund designates the amount distributed as a qualified dividend and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements.  In the case of corporate shareholders, a portion of the distributions may qualify for the inter-corporate dividends-received deduction to the extent the Fund designates the amount distributed as eligible for deduction and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements.  The aggregate amount so designated to either individuals or corporate shareholders cannot, however, exceed the aggregate amount of such dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year.  In view of the Fund’s investment policies, it is expected that part of the distributions by the Fund may be eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment for individual shareholders and the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
 
 
B-34


 
Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time shares have been held.  Capital gain distributions are not eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment or the dividends-received deduction referred to in the previous paragraph.

Distributions of any net investment income and net realized capital gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or in cash.  Shareholders who choose to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the NAV of a share on the reinvestment date.  Distributions are generally taxable when received.  However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31.  Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax.

A redemption or exchange of Fund shares may result in recognition of a taxable gain or loss.  Any loss realized upon a redemption or exchange of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gains during such six-month period.  Any loss realized upon a redemption or exchange may be disallowed under certain wash sale rules to the extent shares of the Fund are purchased (through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the redemption or exchange.

Except in the case of certain exempt shareholders, if a shareholder does not furnish the Fund with its correct Taxpayer Identification Number and certain certifications or the Fund receives notification from the Internal Revenue Service requiring back-up withholding, the Fund is required by federal law to withhold federal income tax from the shareholder’s distributions and redemption proceeds at a rate of 28% for U.S. residents.

Foreign taxpayers (including nonresident aliens) are generally subject to a flat withholding rate of 30% on U.S. source income.  This withholding rate may be lower under the terms of a tax convention.

This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by Fund management, and counsel to the Fund has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.

This section is not intended to be a full discussion of tax laws and the effect of such laws on you.  There may be other federal, state, foreign or local tax considerations to a particular investor.  You are urged to consult your own tax adviser.

Dividends and Distributions
The Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned on its investments in securities.  This income, less the expenses incurred in its operations, is the Fund’s net investment income, substantially all of which will be distributed to the Fund’s shareholders.

The amount of the Fund’s distributions is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees.  The Fund does not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its shares.
 
 
B-35


 
The Fund also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities.  Any net gain the Fund may realize from transactions involving investments held less than the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing short-term capital gains and losses (taking into account any carryover of capital losses from the eight previous taxable years), although a distribution from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders with and as a part of the distributions of net investment income giving rise to ordinary income.  If during any year the Fund realizes a net gain on transactions involving investments held for the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long-term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long-term capital gain.  After deduction of the amount of any net short-term capital loss, the balance (to the extent not offset by any capital losses carried over from the eight previous taxable years) will be distributed and treated as long-term capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time the Fund’s shares may have been held by the shareholders.  For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax adviser.

Any distribution paid by the Fund reduces that Fund’s NAV per share on the date paid by the amount of the distribution per share.  Accordingly, a distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by a shareholder would represent, in substance, a partial return of capital (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased), even though it would be subject to income taxes.

Distributions will be made in the form of additional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated.  Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing.  However, any such change will be effective only as to distributions for which the record date is seven or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.

Financial Statements
As the Fund has recently commenced operations, there are no financial statements available at this time.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-36

 

SHORT-TERM RATINGS
 
Standard & Poor’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 
 A Standard & Poor's issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion evaluates the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.  The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.
 
Issue credit ratings are based on current information furnished by the obligors or obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any credit rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.
 
Issue credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1

A short-term obligation rated 'A-1' is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2

A short-term obligation rated 'A-2' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
 
 
B-37


 
A-3

A short-term obligation rated 'A-3' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

A short-term obligation rated 'B' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of 'B-1', 'B-2', and 'B-3' may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the 'B' category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B-1

A short-term obligation rated 'B-1' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

B-2

A short-term obligation rated 'B-2' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

B-3

A short-term obligation rated 'B-3' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

C

A short-term obligation rated 'C' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D

A short-term obligation rated 'D' is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
 
 
B-38


 
Dual Ratings
 
Standard & Poor's assigns "dual" ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, 'AAA/A-1+'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').
 

Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)


i
 
This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The 'i' subscript indicates that the rating addresses the interest portion of the obligation only. The 'i' subscript will always be used in conjunction with the 'p' subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of "AAAp NRi" indicating that the principal portion is rated "AAA" and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.
 
L
 
Ratings qualified with 'L' apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.
 
p
 
This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The 'p' subscript indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. The 'p' subscript will always be used in conjunction with the 'i' subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of interest. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of "AAAp NRi" indicating that the principal portion is rated "AAA" and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.
 
pi
 
Ratings with a 'pi' subscript are based on an analysis of an issuer's published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. They do not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer's management and are therefore based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a 'pi' subscript. Ratings with a 'pi' subscript are reviewed annually based on a new year's financial statements, but may be reviewed on an interim basis if a major event occurs that may affect the issuer's credit quality.
 
 
B-39

 
pr
 
The letters 'pr' indicate that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk.
 
preliminary
 
Preliminary ratings are assigned to issues, including financial programs, in the following circumstances.
 
·    
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt and approval by Standard & Poor's of appropriate documentation. Changes in the information provided to Standard & Poor's could result in the assignment of a different rating. In addition, Standard & Poor's reserves the right not to issue a final rating.
 
·    
Preliminary ratings are assigned to Rule 415 Shelf Registrations. As specific issues, with defined terms, are offered from the master registration, a final rating may be assigned to them in accordance with Standard & Poor's policies. The final rating may differ from the preliminary rating.
 
t
 
This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.
 
unsolicited
 
Unsolicited ratings are those credit ratings assigned at the initiative of Standard & Poor's and not at the request of the issuer or its agents.
 

Inactive Qualifiers (No longer applied or outstanding)

 
*

This symbol indicated continuance of the ratings is contingent upon Standard & Poor's receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.

c

This qualifier was used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer is below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer's bonds are deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.
 
 
B-40


 
q

A 'q' subscript indicates that the rating is based solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available information. Discontinued use in April 2001.

r

The 'r' modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an 'r' modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. Standard & Poor's discontinued the use of the 'r' modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks

Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor's analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor's capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government's own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.

Moody’s Short-Term Debt Ratings
 
Short-Term Ratings
 
Moody's short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
 
Moody's employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
 
P-1
 
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
P-2
 
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
 
B-41

 
P-3
 
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
 
NP
 
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
 
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.
 
Short Term vs. Long Term Ratings chart
 
 
Fitch’s International Short-Term Credit Ratings
 
 
The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. A Short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for US public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years. Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.
 
 
F1
Highest credit quality.  Indicates the Strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
 
 
B-42

 
 
 
F2
Good credit quality.  A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
 
 
F3
Fair credit quality.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
 
 
B
Speculative.  Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
 
 
C
High default risk.  Default is a real possibility.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
 
 
D
Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.
 
Notes to International Long-Term and Short-Term ratings:
 
The modifiers "+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA' Long-term rating category, to categories below 'CCC', or to Short-term ratings other than 'F1'. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)
 
Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as "Positive", indicating a potential upgrade, "Negative", for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving", if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.
 
Rating Outlook: An Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two-year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are 'stable' could be upgraded or downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.
 
Program ratings (such as the those assigned to MTN shelf registrations) relate only to standard issues made under the program concerned; it should not be assumed that these ratings apply to every issue made under the program. In particular, in the case of non-standard issues, i.e. those that are linked to the credit of a third party or linked to the performance of an index, ratings of these issues may deviate from the applicable program rating.
 
Variable rate demand obligations and other securities which contain a short-term 'put' or other similar demand feature will have a dual rating, such as AAA/F1+. The first rating reflects the ability to meet long-term principal and interest payments, whereas the second rating reflects the ability to honor the demand feature in full and on time.
 
 
B-43

 
Fitch's ratings on U.S. public finance debt securities measure credit quality relative of other U.S. public finance debt securities. Loss rates of most Fitch-rated U.S. public finance debt securities have historically been significantly lower, and are expected to continue to be significantly lower, than other debt instruments rated comparably by Fitch.
 
Interest Only
 
Interest Only ratings are assigned to interest strips. These ratings do not address the possibility that a security holder might fail to recover some or all of its initial investment due to voluntary or involuntary principal repayments.
 
Principal Only
 
Principal Only ratings address the likelihood that a security holder will receive their initial principal investment either before or by the scheduled maturity date.
 
Rate of Return
 
Ratings also may be assigned to gauge the likelihood of an investor receiving a certain predetermined internal rate of return without regard to the precise timing of any cash flows.
 
'PIF'
 
The tranche has reached maturity and has been "paid-in-full", regardless of whether it was amortized or called early.  As the issue no longer exists, it is therefore no longer rated.
 
'NR' denotes that Fitch Ratings does not publicly rate the associated issuer or issuer.
 
'WD'
 
Indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer maintained by Fitch.

 
Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) National Short-Term Credit Ratings
 
National Ratings are an assessment of credit quality relative to the rating of the "best" credit risk in a country. This "best" risk will normally, although not always, be assigned to all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state.
 
A special identifier for the country concerned will be added at the end of all national ratings. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used, in the table below.
 
 
F1(xxx)
Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  Under their national rating scale, this rating is assigned to the “best” credit risk relative to all others in the same country and is normally assigned to all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state.  Where the creditworthiness is particularly strong, a “+” is added to the assigned rating.
 
 
F2(xxx)
Indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
 
 
B-44

 
 
 
F3(xxx)
Indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  However, such capacity is more susceptible to near-term adverse changes than for financial commitments in higher rated categories.
 
 
B (xxx)
Indicates an uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  Such capacity is highly susceptible to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
 
 
C (xxx)
Indicates a highly uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  Capacity or meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
 
 
D (xxx)
Indicates actual or imminent payment default.
 
Note to National Short-Term ratings:
 
In certain countries, regulators have established credit rating scales, to be used within their domestic markets, using specific nomenclature. In these countries, our National Short-Term Ratings definitions for F1+(xxx), F1(xxx), F2(xxx) and F3(xxx) may be substituted by those regulatory scales, e.g. A1+, A1, A2 and A3.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-45

 
 
 
LONG-TERM RATINGS
 
Standard & Poor’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
 
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
 
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
 
·    
Likelihood of payment capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
 
·    
Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
·    
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
 
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
 
AAA
 
An obligation rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
 
AA
 
An obligation rated 'AA' differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
 
A
 
An obligation rated 'A' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
 
BBB
 
An obligation rated 'BBB' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
 
B-46

 
 
BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
 
Obligations rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC', and 'C' are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'C' the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
 
BB
 
An obligation rated 'BB' is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
B
 
An obligation rated 'B' is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated 'BB', but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
CCC
 
An obligation rated 'CCC' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
CC
 
An obligation rated 'CC' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
 
C

A subordinated debt or preferred stock obligation rated 'C' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The 'C' rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued. A 'C' also will be assigned to a preferred stock issue in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-47

 
D

An obligation rated 'D' is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
 
Plus (+) or minus (-)
 
The ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
 
N.R.
 
This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor's does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
 
Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)


i
 
This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The 'i' subscript indicates that the rating addresses the interest portion of the obligation only. The 'i' subscript will always be used in conjunction with the 'p' subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of "AAAp N.R.i" indicating that the principal portion is rated "AAA" and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.
 
L
 
Ratings qualified with 'L' apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-48

 
 
p
 
This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The 'p' subscript indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. The 'p' subscript will always be used in conjunction with the 'i' subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of interest. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of "AAAp N.R.i" indicating that the principal portion is rated "AAA" and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.
 
pi
 
Ratings with a 'pi' subscript are based on an analysis of an issuer's published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. They do not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer's management and are therefore based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a 'pi' subscript. Ratings with a 'pi' subscript are reviewed annually based on a new year's financial statements, but may be reviewed on an interim basis if a major event occurs that may affect the issuer's credit quality.
 
pr
 
The letters 'pr' indicate that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk.
 
preliminary
 
Preliminary ratings are assigned to issues, including financial programs, in the following circumstances.
 
·    
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt and approval by Standard & Poor's of appropriate documentation. Changes in the information provided to Standard & Poor's could result in the assignment of a different rating. In addition, Standard & Poor's reserves the right not to issue a final rating.
 
·    
Preliminary ratings are assigned to Rule 415 Shelf Registrations. As specific issues, with defined terms, are offered from the master registration, a final rating may be assigned to them in accordance with Standard & Poor's policies. The final rating may differ from the preliminary rating.
 
 
 
 
B-49

 
 
t
 
This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.
 
unsolicited
 
Unsolicited ratings are those credit ratings assigned at the initiative of Standard & Poor's and not at the request of the issuer or its agents.
 

Inactive Qualifiers (No longer applied or outstanding)

 
*

This symbol indicated continuance of the ratings is contingent upon Standard & Poor's receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.

c

This qualifier was used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer is below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer's bonds are deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.

q

A 'q' subscript indicates that the rating is based solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available information. Discontinued use in April 2001.

r

The 'r' modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an 'r' modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. Standard & Poor's discontinued the use of the 'r' modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks

Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor's analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor's capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government's own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
 
 
B-50


 

Moody’s Long-Term Debt Ratings
 
 
Long-Term Obligation Ratings
 
Moody's long-term obligation ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of fixed-income obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.
 
Moody's Long-Term Rating Definitions:
 
Aaa
 
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.
 
Aa
 
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
 
A
 
Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
 
Baa
 
Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
 
Ba
 
Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.
 
B
 
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
 
Caa
 
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
 
Ca
 
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
 
 
 
 
 
B-51

 
 
C
 
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
 
Note: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
 
Fitch’s International Long-Term Credit Ratings
 
International Long-Term Credit Ratings (LTCR) may also be referred to as Long-Term Ratings. When assigned to most issuers, it is used as a benchmark measure of probability of default and is formally described as an Issuer Default Rating (IDR). The major exception is within Public Finance, where IDRs will not be assigned as market convention has always focused on timeliness and does not draw analytical distinctions between issuers and their underlying obligations. When applied to issues or securities, the LTCR may be higher or lower than the issuer rating (IDR) to reflect relative differences in recovery expectations.
 
 
The following rating scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings:
 
Investment Grade
 
 
AAA
Highest credit quality.  ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
 
 
AA
Very high credit quality.  ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
 
 
A
High credit quality.  ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
 
 
BBB
Good credit quality.  ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that there is currently expectations of low credit risk.  The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.  This is the lowest investment-grade category.
 
Speculative Grade
 
 
BB
Speculative.  ‘BB’ ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.  Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
 
 
B-52

 
 
 
B
Highly speculative.
 
·    
For issuers and performing obligations, 'B' ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

·    
For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for extremely high recoveries. Such obligations would possess a Recovery Rating of 'RR1' (outstanding).
 
CCC
 
·    
For issuers and performing obligations, default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

·    
For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for average to superior levels of recovery. Differences in credit quality may be denoted by plus/minus distinctions. Such obligations typically would possess a Recovery Rating of 'RR2' (superior), or 'RR3' (good) or 'RR4' (average).
 
C
 
·    
For issuers and performing obligations, default of some kind appears probable.
 
·    
For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with a Recovery Rating of 'RR4' (average) or 'RR5' (below average).
 
C
 
·    
For issuers and performing obligations, default is imminent.
 
·    
For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for below-average to poor recoveries. Such obligations would possess a Recovery Rating of 'RR6' (poor).
 
RD
 
Indicates an entity that has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of obligations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-53

 
 
D
Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations. Default generally is defined as one of the following:
 
·          
failure of an obligor to make timely payment of principal and/or interest under the contractual terms of any financial obligation;
 
·          
the bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other winding-up or cessation of business of an obligor;
 
·          
the distressed or other coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation.
 
 
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period.
 
Issuers will be rated 'D' upon a default. Defaulted and distressed obligations typically are rated along the continuum of 'C' to 'B' ratings categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. Additionally, in structured finance transactions, where analysis indicates that an instrument is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to meet pay interest and/or principal in full in accordance with the terms of the obligation's documentation during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default in accordance with the terms of the documentation is imminent, the obligation may be rated in the 'B' or 'CCC-C' categories.
 
Default is determined by reference to the terms of the obligations' documentation. Fitch will assign default ratings where it has reasonably determined that payment has not been made on a material obligation in accordance with the requirements of the obligation's documentation, or where it believes that default ratings consistent with Fitch's published definition of default are the most appropriate ratings to assign.
 
Notes to International Long-Term and Short-Term ratings
 
The modifiers "+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA' Long-term rating category, to categories below 'CCC', or to Short-term ratings other than 'F1'. (The +/- modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)
 
Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as "Positive", indicating a potential upgrade, "Negative", for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving", if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.
 
 
 
B-54

 
 
Rating Outlook: An Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two-year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are 'stable' could be upgraded or downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.
 
Program ratings (such as the those assigned to MTN shelf registrations) relate only to standard issues made under the program concerned; it should not be assumed that these ratings apply to every issue made under the program. In particular, in the case of non-standard issues, i.e. those that are linked to the credit of a third party or linked to the performance of an index, ratings of these issues may deviate from the applicable program rating.
 
Variable rate demand obligations and other securities which contain a short-term 'put' or other similar demand feature will have a dual rating, such as AAA/F1+. The first rating reflects the ability to meet long-term principal and interest payments, whereas the second rating reflects the ability to honor the demand feature in full and on time.
 
Fitch's ratings on U.S. public finance debt securities measure credit quality relative of other U.S. public finance debt securities. Loss rates of most Fitch-rated U.S. public finance debt securities have historically been significantly lower, and are expected to continue to be significantly lower, than other debt instruments rated comparably by Fitch.
 
Interest Only
 
Interest Only ratings are assigned to interest strips. These ratings do not address the possibility that a security holder might fail to recover some or all of its initial investment due to voluntary or involuntary principal repayments.
 
Principal Only
 
Principal Only ratings address the likelihood that a security holder will receive their initial principal investment either before or by the scheduled maturity date.
 
Rate of Return
 
Ratings also may be assigned to gauge the likelihood of an investor receiving a certain predetermined internal rate of return without regard to the precise timing of any cash flows.
 
'PIF'
 
The tranche has reached maturity and has been "paid-in-full", regardless of whether it was amortized or called early.  As the issue no longer exists, it is therefore no longer rated.
 
'NR'
 
Denotes that Fitch Ratings does not publicly rate the associated issue or issuer.
 
'WD'
 
Indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer maintained by Fitch.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-55


 
Fitch’s National Long-Term Credit Ratings
 
 
National Ratings are an assessment of credit quality relative to the rating of the "best" credit risk in a country. This "best" risk will normally, although not always, be assigned to all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state.
 
A special identifier for the country concerned will be added at the end of all national ratings. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used, in the table below.

 
 
AAA(xxx)
AAA’ national ratings denote the highest rating assigned in its national rating scale for that country.  This rating is assigned to the “best” credit risk relative to all other issuers or issues in the same country and will normally be assigned to all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state.
 
 
AA(xxx)
‘AA’ national ratings denote a very strong credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  The credit risk inherent in these financial commitments differs only slightly from the country’s highest rated issuers or issues.
 
 
A (xxx)
‘A’ national ratings denote a strong credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment of these financial commitments to a greater degree than for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.
 
 
BBB(xxx)
‘BBB’ national ratings denote an adequate credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions are more likely to affect the capacity for timely repayment of these financial commitments than for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.
 
 
BB(xxx)
‘BB’ national ratings denote a fairly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  Within the context of the country, payment of these financial commitments is uncertain to some degree and capacity for timely repayment remains more vulnerable to adverse economic change over time.
 
 
B (xxx)
‘B’ national ratings denote a significantly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  Financial commitments are currently being met but a limited margin of safety remains and capacity for continued timely payments is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
 
 
CCC(xxx), CC(xxx), C(xxx)
 
These categories of national ratings denote an extremely weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the same country.  Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments.
 
 
 
 
B-56

 
 
 
DDD(xxx), DD(xxx), D(xxx)
 
These categories of national ratings are assigned to entities or financial commitments which are currently in default.
 
 
E(xxx)
 
Adequate information is not available to meet the obligations of the rating. This category is used as a downgrade when the previous rating is suspended due to a lack of documentation from the issuer necessary to continue surveillance and maintain the rating.
 
 
MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
 
Standard & Poor’s Note Ratings
Short-Term Notes
 
A Standard & Poor's U.S. municipal note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The following criteria will be used in making that assessment:
 
·    
Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
 
·    
Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
 
Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
SP-1
 
Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
 
SP-2
 
Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
 
SP-3
 
Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-57

 
 
Moody’s MIG/VMIG Ratings U.S. Short-Term Ratings
 
US Municipal Short-Term Debt And Demand Obligation Ratings
 
Short-Term Debt Ratings
 
There are three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are divided into three levels -- MIG 1 through MIG 3. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
 
MIG 1
 
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
MIG 2
 
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
 
MIG 3
 
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
 
SG
 
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
 
Demand Obligation Ratings
 
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody's evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody's evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand ("demand feature"), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.
 
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.
 
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue's specific structural or credit features.
 
 
 
B-58

 
 
VMIG 1
 
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
VMIG 2
 
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
VMIG 3
 
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
SG
 
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-59

 
Appendix B - Proxy Voting Policy of the Advisor

[to be provided by amendment]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B-60

 
 
TRUST FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS
PART C
SCHOONER GROWTH AND INCOME FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 23.  Exhibits.

(a)  
Declaration of Trust
 
 
(1)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust — Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 24, 2004, and is incorporated by reference.
 
 
(2)
Declaration of Trust — Previously filed with Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 84 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated by reference.
 
 
(3)
Restated Certificate of Trust — Previously filed with Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 84 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(b)
Amended and Restated Bylaws — Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 24, 2004, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(c)  
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders — Incorporated by reference to the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.
 
(d)
Investment Advisory Agreement — to be filed.
 
(e)  
Underwriting Agreement — to be filed.
 
(f)  
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts — Not applicable.
 
(g)  
Custody Agreement — to be filed.
 
(h)  
Other Material Contracts
 
 
(1)
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement — to be filed.
 
 
(2)
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – to be filed.
 
 
(3)
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement — to be filed.
 
 
(4)
Power of Attorney — Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated by reference.
 
 
(5)
Operating Expense Limitation Agreement — to be filed.
 
(i)  
Opinion and Consent of Counsel — to be filed.
 
(j)  
Consent of Independent Auditors— Not applicable.
 
(k)  
Omitted Financial Statements — Not applicable.
 
(l)  
Agreement Relating to Initial Capital — Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on December 19, 2003, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(m)  
Rule 12b-1 Plan — to be filed.
 
(n)  
Rule 18f-3 Plan — to be filed.
 
(o)  
Reserved.
 
(p)  
Code of Ethics
 
 
(1)
Code of Ethics for Registrant — Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on May 2, 2005, and is incorporated by reference.
 
 
(2)
Code of Ethics for Fund and Advisor — to be filed.
 
 
(3)
Code of Ethics for Principal Underwriter — Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on December 14, 2006, and is incorporated by reference.
 
 
 
C-1


 
Item 24.  Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.

Item 25.  Indemnification.

Reference is made to Article X of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust.

Pursuant to Rule 484 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant furnishes the following undertaking:  “Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.”

Item 26.  Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisor

Schooner Investment Group, LLC (the “Advisor”) serves as the investment advisor for the Schooner Growth and Income Fund (the “Fund”).  The principal business address of the Advisor is 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-200, Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087.  With respect to the Advisor, the response to this Item will be incorporated by reference to the Advisor’s Uniform Application for Investment Advisor Registration (“Form ADV”) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), dated April 29, 2008.  The Advisor’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Item 27.  Principal Underwriter.

(a)           Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Registrant’s principal underwriter, acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

Academy Funds Trust
Intrepid Capital Management Funds Trust
Advisors Series Trust
Jacob Internet Fund, Inc.
AIP Alternative Strategies Funds
Jensen Portfolio, Inc.
Allied Asset Advisors Funds
Julius Baer Global Equity Fund, Inc.
Alpine Equity Trust
Julius Baer Investment Funds
Alpine Income Trust
Kensington Funds
Alpine Series Trust
Keystone Mutual Funds
Brandes Investment Trust
Kiewit Investment Fund, LLLP
Brandywine Blue Funds, Inc.
Kirr Marbach Partners Funds, Inc
Brazos Mutual Funds
LKCM Funds
Bridges Investment Fund, Inc.
Masters' Select Funds Trust
Buffalo Balanced Fund, Inc.
Matrix  Advisors Value Fund, Inc.
Buffalo Funds
Monetta Fund, Inc.
 
 
C-2

 
 
Buffalo High Yield Fund, Inc.
Monetta Trust
Buffalo Large Cap Fund, Inc.
MP63 Fund, Inc.
Buffalo Small Cap Fund, Inc.
Nicholas Family of Funds, Inc.
Buffalo USA Global Fund, Inc.
Permanent Portfolio Family of Funds, Inc.
Country Mutual Funds Trust
Perritt Funds, Inc.
Cullen Funds Trust
Perritt Microcap Opportunities Fund, Inc.
Empiric Funds, Inc.
Primecap Odyssey Funds
Everest Funds
Prospector Funds, Inc.
Fairholme Funds, Inc.
Prudent Bear Funds, Inc.
First American Funds, Inc.
Purisima Funds
First American Investment Funds, Inc.
Quaker Investment Trust
First American Strategy Funds, Inc.
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
Fort Pitt Capital Funds
Rockland Funds Trust
Glenmede Fund, Inc.
Summit Mutual Funds, Inc.
Glenmede Portfolios
Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc.
Greenspring Fund, Inc.
TIFF Investment Program, Inc.
Guinness Atkinson Funds
Trust for Professional Managers
Harding Loevner Funds, Inc.
Underlying Funds Trust
Hennessy Funds Trust
USA Mutuals Funds
Hennessy Funds, Inc.
Wexford Trust
Hennessy Mutual Funds, Inc.
Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc.
Hotchkis & Wiley Funds
WY Funds

(b)           To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of Quasar Distributors, LLC are as follows:

Name and Principal
Business Address
Position and Offices with Quasar Distributors, LLC
Positions and Offices with Registrant
James R. Schoenike
President, Board Member
None
Andrew Strnad
Secretary
None
Joe Redwine
Board Member
None
Bob Kern
Board Member
None
Eric W. Falkeis
Board Member
None
Teresa Cowan
Assistant Secretary
None
The address of each of the foregoing is 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202.

(c)           not applicable.
 
 
 
C-3

 
Item 28.  Location of Accounts and Records.

The books and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained in the following locations:

Records Relating to:
Are located at:
 
Registrant’s Fund Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202
 
Registrant’s Investment Advisor
Schooner Investment Group, LLC
150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-200
Radnor, PA 19087
 
Registrant’s Custodian
U.S. Bank, National Association
1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53212
 
Registrant’s Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202

Item 29.  Management Services.

All management-related service contracts entered into by Registrant are discussed in Parts A and B of this Registration Statement.

Item 30.  Undertakings.

The Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a Prospectus for one or more of the series of the Registrant is delivered with a copy of the relevant latest annual report to shareholders, upon request and without charge.
 
 
C-4

 

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed below on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, on the 9th day of July, 2008.

TRUST FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS

By:  /s/ John P. Buckel
John P. Buckel
Vice President of the Trust

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below on July 9, 2008 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

Signature
 
Title
Joseph C. Neuberger*
Joseph C. Neuberger
 
Chairperson, President, Treasurer/Principal
Accounting Officer and Trustee
Dr. Michael D. Akers*
Dr. Michael D. Akers
 
Independent Trustee
Gary A. Drska*
Gary A. Drska
 
Independent Trustee
* By        /s/ John P. Buckel 
John P. Buckel
Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Power of
Attorney previously filed with Registrant’s
Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to its
Registration Statement on Form N-1A with
the SEC on April 18, 2008, and is
incorporated by reference.
 

 
 
 
C-5