fp0003557_485apos.htm

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 2011

Securities Act File No. 333-75786

Investment Company Act File No. 811-10405

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. 29	[X]
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940	[X]
Amendment No. 31	[X]

ALPINE SERIES TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215

Purchase, New York 10577

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

1-888-785-5578

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code

Samuel A. Lieber

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC

2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215

Purchase, New York 10577

(Name and address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Rose F. DiMartino, Esq.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

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

[ ]	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ]	on [ ] pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ]	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[X]	on December 30, 2011 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ]	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[ ]	on _____________ 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.

Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund (TICKER SYMBOL)

Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund (TICKER SYMBOL)

Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund (TICKER SYMBOL)

Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund (TICKER SYMBOL)

Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund (TICKER SYMBOL)

Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund (TICKER SYMBOL)

PROSPECTUS

Class A Shares

Each a Series of Alpine Series Trust

PO Box 8061

Boston, MA 02266

For more information call 1-888-785-5578

View our website at www.alpinefunds.com

Subject to Completion, [ ]

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

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registration Statement of Alpine Series Trust (the “Trust” or the “Registrant”) on Form N-1A (File No. 333-75786) (the “Amendment”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register Class A, Shares of the Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund and the Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund, each an existing series of the Registrant. This Amendment does not affect the currently effective prospectuses for the other class of the Trust’s shares not included herein. The Statement of Additional Information has been updated to reflect the addition of Class A Shares.

Effective January 3, 2012, the names of several series of the Registrant will be changing as follows: the Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund will be known as the Alpine Foundation Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund will be known as the Alpine Financial Services Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund will be known as the Alpine Innovators Fund, and the Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund will be known as the Alpine Transformations Fund.

Table of Contents

The Funds’ Summary Sections	xx
About the Funds	xx
The Funds’ Investments and Related Risks	xx
Management of the Funds	xx
Investment Adviser	xx
Portfolio Manager	xx
Legal Proceedings	xx
How the Funds Value their Shares	xx
Fair Value Pricing	xx
How to Buy Shares.	xx
Exchange Privilege	xx
How to Redeem Shares	xx
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge	xx
Redemption Fees	xx
Additional Redemption Information.	xx
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions.	xx
Trading Practices	xx
Distribution of Fund Shares.	xx
Distributor	xx
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan. .	xx
Sales Charge	xx
Letter of Intent	xx
Right of Accumulation	xx
Additional Information	xx
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes	xx
Dividend Policy	xx
Taxation of the Funds	xx
Taxation of Shareholders	xx
Financial Highlights	xx
Notice of Privacy Policy	xx
Additional Information	xx
To Obtain More Information about the Funds	xx

Summary Section

Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund

Investment Objective
The primary investment objective of Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund (the “Balance Fund”) is capital appreciation. The Balance Fund’s secondary investment objectives are reasonable income and conservation of capital.

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

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases(1)	5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (2)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within less than 60 days of purchase)	1.00%

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

Management Fees	1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%
Other Expenses	[ %]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[ %]

(1)	The sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

(2)

A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% will be paid if Class A Shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchasing Class A Shares as part of an investment greater than $1,000,000 if no front-end sales charge was paid at the time of purchase and a concession was paid to the financial intermediary or dealer.

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

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies
The Balance Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing its assets primarily in a combination of equity securities of large U.S.

companies and high quality fixed income securities. The equity securities in which the Balance Fund invests may include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks, such as convertible debt, options on securities and warrants. The Balance Fund’s investments in common stocks will emphasize stocks that (at the time of purchase) pay dividends and have capital appreciation potential. The fixed income securities in which the Balance Fund invests may include U.S. Government debt obligations, corporate debt obligations, and money market instruments. The Balance Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in fixed income securities rated below “A” by Standard and Poor’s Rating Services or by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc; this limit does not apply to convertible debt securities. The Balance Fund may invest up to 15% of the value its net assets in the securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States or on foreign exchanges.

Under normal circumstances, the Balance Fund invests not less than 25% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Balance Fund will sometimes be more heavily invested in equity securities and at other times it will be more heavily invested in fixed income securities, depending on the appraisal of market and economic conditions by Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC (the “Adviser”). For instance, the Balance Fund may be more heavily invested in equity securities when, in the opinion of the Adviser, interest rates are generally perceived to be rising and the anticipated performance of equity securities is believed to be positive. In such instances, the Balance Fund may invest up to 75% of its net assets in equity securities. Additionally, the Balance Fund may invest up to 75% of its net assets in fixed income securities when, in the opinion of the Adviser, the prospective returns of equity securities appear to be lower or less certain than those of fixed income securities.

The Balance Fund invests in equity securities that offer growth potential and in fixed income securities that offer the potential for both growth and income. The Adviser focuses on companies it believes are attractively valued relative to their growth prospects. With respect to equity investments, the Adviser considers company fundamentals and the strength of a company’s management, as well as economic, market and regulatory conditions affecting a company or its industry. The Adviser also looks for companies involved in special situations such as change in management, change in polices, acquisition, merger, reorganization or spin-off. With respect to fixed income securities, investment emphasis is placed on higher quality issues expected to fluctuate little in value except as a result of changes in prevailing interest rates.

Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Balance Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Balance Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Balance Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Balance Fund. By itself, the Balance Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

•	Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

•	Fixed Income Securities Risk — Fixed income securities are subject to issuer risk, interest rate risk and market risk.

•	Foreign Securities Risk — Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Additionally, foreign securities also involve possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes and adverse political or economic developments. These risks may be greater in emerging markets.

•	Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices tend to reflect future expectations. When it appears those expectations will not be met, the prices of growth stocks typically fall. Growth stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market while the market concentrates on undervalued stocks. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry group, it may, like many growth funds, weight its investments toward certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issuers within those industries.

•	Interest Rate Risk — Interest rates may rise resulting in a decrease in the value of securities held by the Fund, or may fall resulting in an increase in the value of such securities. Securities having longer maturities generally involve a greater risk of fluctuations in the value resulting from changes in interest rates.

•	Issuer Risk — Changes in the financial condition of the issuer of an obligation, changes in general economic conditions, or changes in economic conditions that affect the issuer may impact its actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely payments of interest or principal.

•	Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

•	Market Risk — The price of a security held by the Fund may fall due to changing market, economic or political conditions.

•	“Special Situation” Companies Risk —“Special situations” include a change in management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale of spin-off of a division or subsidiary which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock. If the actual or prospective situation does not materialize as anticipated, the market price of the securities of a special situation company may decline significantly. There can be no assurance that a special situation that exists at the time of its investment will be consummated under the terms and within the time period contemplated. Investments in “special situations” companies can present greater risks than investments in companies not experiencing special situations.

Performance
The bar chart below shows how the Balance Fund has performed and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Balance Fund by showing how its performance has varied from year to year. The bar chart shows changes in the yearly performance of the Balance Fund for full calendar years. The Class A Shares of the Fund have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no performance information is available. The historical performance of Institutional Class Shares (formerly known as Investor Class Shares) is used to calculate the performance for Class A Shares prior to their issuance. Both Institutional Class and Class A Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The Fund’s sales load is not reflected in the bar chart, if it were, returns would be less than those shown. The table below it compares the performance of the Balance Fund over time to the Balance Fund’s benchmark index. The chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. To the extent that the Fund’s historical performance resulted from gains derived from participation in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and/or secondary offerings, there is no guarantee that these results can be replicated in future periods or that the Fund will be able to participate to the same degree in IPO and secondary offerings in the future. Of course, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Balance Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available on the Fund’s website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 of Each Year

Institutional Shares

Best and Worst Quarter Results
During the periods shown in the Chart for the Fund:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
15.45%	6/30/03	(15.08)%	12/31/08

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ending December 31, 2010)

Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund – Institutional Shares	1 Year	5 Years	Since
			Inception 6/7/01
Return Before Taxes	15.53%	0.04%	4.46%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	15.32%	(0.63)%	3.72%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	10.33%	(0.06)%	3.67%
S&P 500 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	15.06%	2.29%	1.83%
Lipper Mixed-Asset Target Allocation Growth Funds Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	12.78%	3.32%	3.37%

Performance data quoted represents past performance and is not predictive of future results. Investment return and principal value of the Fund fluctuate, so that the shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance current to the most recent month end may be lower or higher than performance quoted and may be obtained by calling 1-888-785-5578.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal margin income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on your situation and may differ from those shown. Furthermore, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to those who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or IRAs.

Performance data shown does not reflect the 1.00% redemption fee imposed on shares held for fewer than 60 days. If it did, total returns would be reduced.

Management
Investment Adviser
Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Managers
Mr. Samuel A. Lieber, Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser since 1997, and Mr. Stephen A. Lieber, are the co-portfolio managers primarily responsible for the investment decisions of the Fund and have each managed the Fund since its inception.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day the NYSE is open by contacting your financial intermediary. The minimum initial amount of investment in the Fund is $2,500. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create conflicts of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your adviser or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

Summary Section

Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund

Investment Objective
The Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund (the “Dividend Fund”) seeks high current dividend income that qualifies for the reduced U.S. Federal income tax rates created by the “Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003,” while also focusing on total return for long-term growth of capital.

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

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases(1)	5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (2)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within less than 60 days of purchase)	1.00%

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

Management Fees	1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%
Other Expenses	[ %]
Interest Expense	[ %]
Total Other Expenses	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[ %]

(1)	The sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

(2)

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 506% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies
To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances, the Dividend Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of certain domestic and foreign corporations that pay dividend income, that it believes are undervalued relative to the market and to the securities’ historic valuations. This includes companies that have announced a special dividend or that they will pay dividends within six months. The equity securities in which the Dividend Fund invests include primarily common stocks. The Dividend Fund may, from time to time, also invest in preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), options and securities convertible into

or exchangeable for common stocks, such as convertible debt. The Dividend Fund may invest without limitation in the securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States or on foreign exchanges, provided that no more than 25% are invested in emerging markets.

In managing the assets of the Dividend Fund, the Adviser generally pursues a value-oriented approach. The Adviser seeks to identify investment opportunities in equity securities of dividend paying companies, including companies expected to initiate paying dividends within one year of purchase, that it believes are undervalued relative to the market and to the securities’ historic valuations. Factors that the Adviser considers include fundamental factors such as earnings growth, cash flow, and historical payment of dividends. The Adviser expects that the Fund’s investment strategy may result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 150% on an annual basis.

Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Dividend Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Dividend Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Dividend Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Dividend Fund. By itself, the Dividend Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

•	Dividend Strategy Risk — The Fund’s strategy of investing in dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out favor with investors and underperforms the market. Companies that issue dividend paying-stocks are not required to continue to pay dividends on such stocks. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future.

•	Emerging Market Securities Risk — The risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or operating in emerging market countries. These risks include lack of liquidity and greater price volatility, greater risks of expropriation, less developed legal systems and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

•	Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

•	Foreign Securities Risk — Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Additionally, foreign securities also involve possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes and adverse political or economic developments. These risks may be greater in emerging markets.

•	Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

•	Portfolio Turnover Risk — High portfolio turnover necessarily results in greater transaction costs which may reduce Fund performance.

•	Qualified Dividend Tax Risk — Favorable U.S. Federal tax treatment of Fund distributions may be adversely affected, changed or repealed by future changes in tax laws.

•	Undervalued Stock Risk — Undervalued stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Performance
The bar chart below shows how the Dividend Fund has performed and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Dividend Fund by showing how its performance has varied from year to year. The bar chart shows changes in the yearly performance

of the Dividend Fund for full calendar years. The table below it compares the performance of the Dividend Fund over time to the Dividend Fund’s benchmark index. The Class A Shares of the Fund have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no performance information is available. The historical performance of Institutional Class Shares (formerly known as Investor Class Shares) is used to calculate the performance for Class A Shares prior to their issuance. Both Institutional Class and Class A Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The Fund’s sales load is not reflected in the bar chart, if it were, returns would be less than those shown. The chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. To the extent that the Fund’s historical performance resulted from gains derived from participation in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and/or secondary offerings, there is no guarantee that these results can be replicated in future periods or that the Fund will be able to participate to the same degree in IPO and secondary offerings in the future. Of course, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Dividend Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available on the Fund’s website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 of Each Year

Institutional Shares

Best and Worst Quarter Results
During the periods shown in the Chart for the Fund:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
15.26%	12/31/10	(24.61)%	12/31/08

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ending December 31, 2010)

Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund - Institutional Shares	1 Year	5 Years	Since Inception 9/22/03
Return Before Taxes	12.07%	(1.33)%	5.28%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	7.02%	(4.38)%	2.43%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	8.55%	(1.63)%	4.12%
S&P 500 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	15.06%	2.29%	4.79%
Lipper Global Multi-Cap Core Funds Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	14.08%	2.41%	6.56%

Management
Investment Adviser
Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Managers
Ms. Jill K Evans and Mr. Kevin Shacknofsky are the co-portfolio managers primarily responsible for the investment decisions of the Fund and have managed the Fund since 2003 and 2006, respectively.

Summary Section

Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund

Investment Objective
The Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund (the “Financial Services Fund”) seeks long-term growth of capital and consistent above average total returns as compared to those typical of investments made in public equities.

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

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases(1)	5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (2)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within less than 60 days of purchase)	1.00%

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

Management Fees	1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%
Other Expenses	[ %]
Interest Expense	[ %]
Total Other Expenses	[ %]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[ %]
Less: Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursement (3)	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursement	[ %]

(1)	The sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

(2)

(3)

The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to absorb expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to ensure that ordinary operating expenses (including 12b-1 fees, but excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed annually 1.60% of the Fund’s average net assets. Subject to annual approval by the Board of Trustees of the Alpine Series Trust (the “Board of Trustees”), this arrangement will remain in effect unless and until the Board of Trustees approves its modification or termination.

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]

account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 133% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies
To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances the Financial Services Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of certain U.S. and foreign companies engaged in the financial services industry. These companies may include commercial and industrial banks, savings and loan associations, community savings banks and other thrift institutions, consumer and industrial finance and leasing companies, securities brokerage and investment advisory firms and insurance companies. The Financial Services Fund may invest without limitation in the securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States or on foreign exchanges.

In particular, the Financial Services Fund invests a substantial percentage of its net assets in equity securities issued by banks that have strong growth prospects or takeover potential. Such equity securities will primarily include common stocks and preferred stocks which the Financial Services Fund may acquire through direct investments or private placements.

In managing the assets of the Financial Services Fund, the Adviser generally pursues a value-oriented approach. It is expected that the Financial Services Fund’s investment program will emphasize smaller market capitalizations, including micro-cap. Factors that the Adviser considers include fundamental factors such as earnings growth, cash flow, and industry and market–specific trends. The Adviser expects that the Fund’s investment strategy may result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 150% on an annual basis.

Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Financial Services Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Financial Services Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Financial Services Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Financial Services Fund. By itself, the Financial Services Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

•	Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

•	Financial Services Industry Concentration Risk — Since the Fund will be concentrated in the financial services industry, it will be less diversified than stock funds investing in a broader range of industries and, therefore, could experience significant volatility. The financial services industry is highly correlated and particularly vulnerable to certain factors, such as the availability and cost of borrowing and raising additional capital, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults and price competition. Financial services companies may also be hurt when interest rates rise sharply, although not all companies are affected equally. Financial institutions are subject to extensive government regulation which may limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments a financial institution can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge.

•	Foreign Securities Risk — Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Additionally, foreign securities also involve possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes and adverse political or economic developments. These risks may be greater in emerging markets.

•	Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

•	Micro Capitalization Company Risk — Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies.

•	Portfolio Turnover Risk — High portfolio turnover necessarily results in greater transaction costs which may reduce Fund performance.

•	Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies.

•	“Special Situation” Companies Risk.—“Special situations” include a change in management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale of spin-off of a division or subsidiary which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock. If the actual or prospective situation does not materialize as anticipated, the market price of the securities of a special situation company may decline significantly. There can be no assurance that a special situation that exists at the time of its investment will be consummated under the terms and within the time period contemplated. Investments in “special situations” companies can present greater risks than investments in companies not experiencing special situations.

•	Undervalued Stock Risk — Undervalued stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Performance
The bar chart below shows how the Financial Services Fund has performed and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Financial Services Fund by showing how its performance has varied from year to year. The table below it compares the performance of the Financial Services Fund to the Financial Services Fund’s benchmark indices. The Class A Shares of the Fund have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no performance information is available. The historical performance of Institutional Class Shares (formerly known as Investor Class Shares) is used to calculate the performance for Class A Shares prior to their issuance. Both Institutional Class and Class A Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The Fund’s sales load is not reflected in the bar chart, if it were, returns would be less than those shown. The chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance benefitted significantly from initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of certain issuers, and there is no assurance that the Fund can replicate this performance in the future. To the extent that the Fund’s historical performance resulted from gains derived from participation in secondary offerings, there is no guarantee that these results can be replicated or that the Fund will be able to participate to the same degree in IPO and secondary offerings in the future. Of course, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Financial Services Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available on the Fund’s website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 of Each Year

Institutional Shares

Best and Worst Quarter Results
During the periods shown in the Chart for the Fund:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
34.43%	6/30/09	(22.93)%	12/31/08

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ending December 31, 2010)

Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund - Institutional Shares	1 Year	5 Years	Since Inception 11/1/05
Return Before Taxes	17.76%	5.42%	5.78%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	17.71%	2.55%	2.98%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	11.61%	3.04%	3.39%
Philadelphia PHLX/KBW Bank Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	22.24%	(12.85)%	(9.17)%
NASDAQ 100 Financial Services Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	11.80%	(4.85)%	(4.61)%
Lipper Financial Services Funds Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	11.85%	(7.20)%	(6.42)%

Management
Investment Adviser
Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Managers
Mr. Peter J. Kovalski and Mr. Stephen Lieber are the co-portfolio managers primarily responsible for the investment decisions of the Fund and have each managed the Fund since its inception.

Summary Section

Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund

Investment Objective

The Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund (the “Innovators Fund”) seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases(1)	5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(2)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within less than 60 days of purchase)	1.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

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

Management Fees	1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%
Other Expenses	[ %]
Interest Expense	[ %]
Total Other Expenses	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[ %]
Less: Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursement (3)	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursement	[ %]

(1) The sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

(2) A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% will be paid if Class A Shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchasing Class A Shares as part of an investment greater than $1,000,000 if no front-end sales charge was paid at the time of purchase and a concession was paid to the financial intermediary or dealer.

(3) The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to absorb expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to ensure that ordinary operating expenses (including 12b-1 fees, but excluding interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed annually 1.60% of the Fund’s average net assets. Subject to annual approval by the Board of Trustees, this arrangement will remain in effect unless and until the Board of Trustees of Alpine Series Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) approves its modification or termination.

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]

Principal Investment Strategies
To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances the Innovators Fund primarily invests its net assets in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that the Adviser believes have a competitive advantage and offer superior growth potential due to the innovative nature of each company’s products, technology or business model. Such equity securities will primarily include common stocks listed on public exchanges, but may include securities acquired through direct investments or private placements. The Innovators Fund’s investments may also include other types of equity or equity-related securities, including convertible preferred

stock or debt, rights and warrants. The Innovators Fund may invest up to 20% of the value its net assets in the securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States or on foreign exchanges.

The Innovators Fund does not have a policy to concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in any particular industry, but rather the Adviser seeks to identify entrepreneurial businesses that are well positioned to benefit from opportunities in the global economy. Factors that the Adviser considers include, but are not limited to, demonstrated technological leadership, new disruptive technologies, introduction of new and better products, innovative business models, potential for merger or acquisition and potential to benefit from deregulation or consolidation events. The Adviser considers “disruptive technologies” to be of a kind to alter a company’s methods of production, or to modify existing processes, and which serve to create new techniques for delivering value to customers.

The Adviser seeks to identify investment opportunities in securities of entrepreneurial businesses that it believes are undervalued. The Fund may invest in innovative companies with any market capitalization, however, innovative stocks tend to be companies with smaller market capitalizations. The Adviser expects that the Fund’s investment strategy may result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 150% on an annual basis.

Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Innovators Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Innovators Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Innovators Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Innovators Fund. By itself, the Innovators Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

•	Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

•	Foreign Securities Risk — Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Additionally, foreign securities also involve possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes and adverse political or economic developments. These risks may be greater in emerging markets.

•	Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

•	Micro Capitalization Company Risk — Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies.

•	Portfolio Turnover Risk — High portfolio turnover necessarily results in greater transaction costs which may reduce Fund performance.


•	Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies. Innovative companies may lack profitability which in turn may result in the lack of innovative support.

•	Undervalued Stock Risk — Undervalued stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Performance
The bar chart below shows how the Innovators Fund has performed and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Innovators Fund by showing how its performance has varied from year to year. The table below it compares the performance of the Innovators Fund to the Innovators Fund’s benchmark index. The Class A Shares of the Fund have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no performance information is available. The historical performance of Institutional Class Shares

(formerly known as Investor Class Shares) is used to calculate the performance for Class A Shares prior to their issuance. Both Institutional Class and Class A Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The Fund’s sales load is not reflected in the bar chart, if it were, returns would be less than those shown. The chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance benefitted significantly from initial public offerings (“IPOs”) of certain issuers, and there is no assurance that the Fund can replicate this performance in the future. To the extent that the Fund’s historical performance resulted from gains derived from participation in secondary offerings, there is no guarantee that these results can be replicated or that the Fund will be able to participate to the same degree in IPO and secondary offerings in the future. Of course, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Innovators Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available on the Fund’s website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 of Each Year
Institutional Shares

Best and Worst Quarter Results
During the periods shown in the Chart for the Fund:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
28.46%	6/30/09	(40.82)%	12/31/08

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ending December 31, 2010)

Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund - Institutional Shares	1 Year	Since Inception
		7/11/06
Return Before Taxes	16.01%	2.46%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	16.01%	2.05%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	10.41%	1.89%
Russell 2000 Growth Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	29.09%	5.29%
Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.62%	4.82%

Management

Investment Adviser

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

Summary Section

Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund

Investment Objective

The Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund (the “Transformations Fund”) seeks capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases(1)	5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(2)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within less than 60 days of purchase)	1.00%

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

Management Fees	1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%
Other Expenses	[ %]
Interest Expense	[ %]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[ %]
Less: Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursements (3)	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursements	[ %]

(1) The sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]

Principal Investment Strategies
To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances, the Transformations Fund seeks to invest in equity securities of companies that, in the Adviser’s estimation, are entering or on the verge of entering an accelerated growth period catalyzed by transformation. The Adviser believes that companies may experience transformation by (i) using existing assets more effectively, including through reorganization or rejuvenation of its management or business model or (ii) developing new concepts, including product, technology or business model concepts. The Adviser believes that acceleration and deceleration of every company’s growth is inevitable during its life cycle. The Adviser seeks to identify companies that are poised for transformation and an accelerated growth period by evaluating

corporate management and its strategic capabilities, the competitive environment of a company and the company’s resources available for mobilization. Companies in which the Transformations Fund invests may include those of any market capitalization and may be established companies or those with little operating history.

In managing the assets of the Transformations Fund, the Adviser pursues a value-oriented approach. The Adviser seeks to identify investment opportunities in securities of companies that it believes are undervalued in light of the companies’ potential for vigorous growth. Companies in which the Transformations Fund will invest may include those of any market capitalization, including large, mid, small and micro, and may be established companies or those with little operating history.

The Transformations Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, provided that no more than 35% are invested in emerging markets, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. The Adviser expects that the Fund’s investment strategy may result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 150% on an annual basis.

Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Transformations Fund is subject to certain risks. The value of the Transformations Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Transformations Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Transformations Fund. By itself, the Transformations Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

•	Emerging Market Securities Risk — The risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or operating in emerging market countries. These risks include lack of liquidity and greater price volatility, greater risks of expropriation, less developed legal systems and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

•	Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

•	Foreign Securities Risk — Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Additionally, foreign securities also involve possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes and adverse political or economic developments. These risks may be greater in emerging markets.

•	Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

•	Micro Capitalization Company Risk — Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies.


•	Portfolio Turnover Risk — High portfolio turnover necessarily results in greater transaction costs which may reduce Fund performance.

•	Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies.

•	Transformation Risk — The Adviser seeks to invest in the securities of companies that the Adviser believes are entering or on the verge of entering a corporate transformation. No assurance can be made that these transformations will result in the vigorous growth anticipated by the Adviser or such growth may be significantly delayed.

•

Undervalued Stock Risk — Undervalued stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Although the funds will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Performance
The bar chart below shows how the Transformations Fund has performed and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Transformations Fund by showing how its performance has varied from year to year. The table below it compares the performance of the Transformations Fund to the Transformations Fund’s benchmark index. The Class A Shares of the Fund have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no performance information is available. The historical performance of Institutional Class Shares (formerly known as Investor Class Shares) is used to calculate the performance for Class A Shares prior to their issuance. Both Institutional Class and Class A Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The Fund’s sales load is not reflected in the bar chart, if it were, returns would be less than those shown. The chart and table assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. To the extent that the Fund’s historical performance resulted from gains derived from participation in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and/or secondary offerings, there is no guarantee that these results can be replicated in future periods or that the Fund will be able to participate to the same degree in IPO and secondary offerings in the future. Of course, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Transformations Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available on the Fund’s website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 of Each Year

Institutional Shares

Best and Worst Quarter Results
During the periods shown in the Chart for the Fund:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
34.69%	6/30/09	(26.00)%	9/30/08

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ending December 31, 2010)

Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund - Institutional Shares	1 Year	Since Inception
		12/31/07
Return Before Taxes	26.50%	4.59%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	26.50%	4.51%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	17.23%	3.87%
S&P 500 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	15.06%	(3.08)%
S&P 400 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	26.64%	3.32%
Russell 2000 Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	24.50%	1.99%
Lipper Mid-Cap Core Funds Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	22.87%	0.43%

Management

Investment Adviser

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Manager
Mr. Stephen A. Lieber is the portfolio manager primarily responsible for the investment decisions of the Fund and has managed the Fund since its inception.

Summary Section

Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund

Investment Objective

The primary investment objective of the Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund (the “Accelerating Dividend Fund”) is income. The Accelerating Dividend Fund also focuses on long-term growth of capital as a secondary investment objective.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

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

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases(1)	5.50%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (2)	None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and Other Distributions	None
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed within less than 60 days of purchase)	1.00%

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

Management Fees	1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee	0.25%
Other Expenses	[ %]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[ %]
Less: Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursements (3)	[ %]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursement	[ %]

(1) The sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]	$[xxx]

Principal Investment Strategies
To achieve its objective, under stable market conditions, the Accelerating Dividend Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of certain domestic and foreign companies that pay dividends. The Accelerating Dividend Fund seeks to provide dividend income without regard to whether the dividends qualify for the reduced U.S. Federal income tax rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Under normal circumstances, the Accelerating

Dividend Fund expects to invest in the equity securities of U.S. issuers, as well as in non-U.S. issuers. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds.

The Accelerating Dividend Fund combines three research driven investment strategies — dividend, growth and value — to generate sustainable distributed dividend income and to identify issuers globally with the potential for accelerating dividends and capital appreciation. The Accelerating Dividend Fund seeks to invest in issuers with a history of or potential for “accelerating dividends,” dividends that increase over time and where the amount of such increases grows over time. In selecting issuers, the Adviser analyzes each company’s dividend history, free cash flow and dividend payout ratios to assess that company’s potential to provide accelerating dividends as well the sustainability of dividend growth. The Accelerating Dividend Fund uses a multi-cap, multi-sector, multi-style approach to invest in the securities of issuers of any capitalization level (small, mid or large) and in any sector or industry.

The Accelerating Dividend Fund intends to invest in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, including those in emerging markets. The Accelerating Dividend Fund is not restricted with respect to how much it may invest in the issuers of any single country or the amount it may invest in non-U.S. issuers, provided the Accelerating Dividend Fund limits its investments in countries that are considered emerging markets to no more than 25% of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s net assets at any one time. An “emerging market” country is any country that is listed on the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Allocation of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s assets among countries is dependent on the economic outlook of those countries and the dividends available in their markets. The Adviser expects that the Fund’s investment strategy may result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 150% on an annual basis.

Principal Investment Risks
An investment in the Accelerating Dividend Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Accelerating Dividend Fund. By itself, the Accelerating Dividend Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

•	Dividend Strategy Risk — The Fund’s strategy of investing in dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out favor with investors and underperforms the market. Companies that issue dividend paying-stocks are not required to continue to pay dividends on such stocks. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future.

•	Emerging Market Securities Risk — The risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or operating in emerging market countries. These risks include lack of liquidity and greater price volatility, greater risks of expropriation, less developed legal systems and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

•	Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

•	Foreign Securities Risk — Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Additionally, foreign securities also involve possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes and adverse political or economic developments. These risks may be greater in emerging markets.

•	Growth Stock Risk — Growth stocks typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices tend to reflect future expectations. When it appears those expectations will not be met, the prices of growth stocks typically fall. Growth stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market while the market concentrates on undervalued stocks. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry group, it may, like many growth funds, weight its investments toward certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issuers within those industries.

•	Investment Company Risk — To the extent that the Fund invests in other investment companies, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such funds’ management fees and operational expenses.

•	Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

•	Portfolio Turnover Risk — High portfolio turnover necessarily results in greater transaction costs which may reduce Fund performance.

•	Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies.

•	Undervalued Stock Risk — Undervalued stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Performance

The following bar chart and table illustrates the risk of investing in the Accelerating Dividend Fund. The information below illustrates how the Fund’s performance has varied and the risks of investing in the Fund by showing its highest and lowest quarterly returns. The Class A Shares of the Fund have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no performance information is available. The historical performance of Institutional Class Shares (formerly known as Investor Class Shares) is used to calculate the performance for Class A Shares prior to their issuance. Both Institutional Class and Class A Shares would have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the Classes do not have the same expenses. The Fund’s sales load is not reflected in the bar chart, if it were, returns would be less than those shown. The table following the bar chart compares the Fund’s performance over time to benchmark indices. To the extent that the Fund’s historical performance resulted from gains derived from participation in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and/or secondary offerings, there is no guarantee that these results can be replicated in future periods or that the Fund will be able to participate to the same degree in IPO and secondary offerings in the future. Of course, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate how the Accelerating Dividend Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available on the Fund’s website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31 Each Year

Institutional Shares

Best and Worst Quarter Results
During the periods shown in the Chart:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
14.26%	9/30/09	(12.10)%	6/30/10

Average Annual Total Returns
(For the periods ending December 31, 2010)

Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund - Institutional Shares	1 Year	Since Inception
		11/3/2008
Return Before Taxes	13.94%	17.62%
Return After Taxes on Distributions	12.57%	16.89%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	9.99%	14.96%

S&P 500 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	15.06%	13.53%
Dow Jones Industrial Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	14.06%	12.33%
Lipper Equity Income Funds Average
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	15.03%	17.98%

Management
Investment Adviser
Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Managers
Mr. Samuel A. Lieber, Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser since 1997, Mr. Stephen A. Lieber, Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser since 2003, Mr. Bryan Keane, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, and Andrew Kohl, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, are the co-portfolio managers primarily responsible for the investment decisions of the Fund. Mr. Samuel Lieber and Mr. Stephen Lieber have both managed the Fund since its inception and Mr. Keane and Mr. Kohl have both managed the Fund since August 2010.

About the Funds

Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund

Investment Objectives

The primary investment objective of Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund (the “Balance Fund”) is capital appreciation. The Balance Fund’s secondary investment objectives are reasonable income and conservation of capital.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Balance Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing its assets primarily in a combination of equity securities of large U.S. companies and high quality fixed income securities. The equity securities in which the Balance Fund invests may include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks, such as convertible debt, options on securities and warrants. The fixed income securities in which the Balance Fund invests may include U.S. Government debt obligations, corporate debt obligations, and money market instruments. As described below, the Balance Fund’s investments in common stocks will emphasize stocks that (at the time of purchase) pay dividends and have capital appreciation potential.

Allocation of the Balance Fund’s assets among different types of investments will vary from time to time depending on prevailing economic and market conditions, including (without any emphasis on any one particular condition): inflation rates, business cycle trends, business regulations and tax law impacts on the investment markets. Under normal circumstances, the Balance Fund invests not less than 25% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Balance Fund will sometimes be more heavily invested in equity securities and at other times it will be more heavily invested in fixed income securities, depending on the Adviser’s appraisal of market and economic conditions. For instance, the Balance Fund may be more heavily invested in equity securities when, in the opinion of the Adviser, interest rates are generally perceived to be rising and the anticipated performance of equity securities is believed to be positive. In such instances, the Balance Fund may invest up to 75% of its net assets in equity securities. Additionally, the Balance Fund may invest up to 75% of its net assets in fixed income securities when, in the opinion of the Adviser, the prospective returns of equity securities appear to be lower or less certain than those of fixed income securities.

The Balance Fund invests in equity securities that offer growth potential and in fixed income securities that offer the potential for both growth and income. The Adviser focuses on companies it believes are attractively valued relative to their growth prospects. In selecting equity investments, the Adviser considers company fundamentals and the strength of a company’s management, as well as economic, market and regulatory conditions affecting a company or its industry. The Adviser also seeks to identify companies that may be involved in “special situations” which may increase the value of the company’s stock. Special situations include a change in the company’s management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary.

With respect to fixed income securities, investment emphasis is placed on higher quality issues expected to fluctuate little in value except as a result of changes in prevailing interest rates. The market values of the fixed income securities in the Balance Fund’s portfolio can be expected to vary inversely to changes in prevailing interest rates. Although fixed income investments will generally be made for the purpose of generating interest income, investments in medium to long-term fixed income securities (i.e., those with maturities from five to ten years and those with maturities over ten years, respectively) may be made with a view to realizing capital appreciation when the Adviser believes changes in interest rates will lead to an increase in the values of such securities. The fixed income portion of the Balance Fund’s portfolio will consist primarily of high quality fixed income securities; predominantly, debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, corporate obligations and money market instruments. Fixed income securities will be deemed to be of high quality if they are rated “A” or better by Standard and Poor’s Rating Services or by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or if unrated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. The Balance Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in fixed income securities rated below “A” by Standard and Poor’s Rating Services or by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Convertible debt securities are not subject to the Balance Fund’s 5% limit on investments in fixed income securities rated below “A.” The Balance Fund may also invest in equity options, stock index options, futures contracts and options on futures. The Balance Fund invests in these instruments for hedging and other non-speculative purposes.

Temporary Defense Positions

The Balance Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Balance Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such times, the Balance Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper, repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in other cases, the Balance Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Main Risks

An investment in the Balance Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Balance Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Balance Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Balance Fund. By itself, the Balance Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

Equity Securities Risk — The values of stocks rise and fall depending on many factors. The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry). General market and economic factors may adversely affect securities markets generally, which could in turn adversely affect the value of the Balance Fund’s investments, regardless of the performance or expected performance of companies in which the Balance Fund invests. There is also the risk that the Adviser’s judgment about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular securities will be incorrect. Special situations involve risks that the contemplated transactions will be abandoned, revised, delayed or that an anticipated event will not occur. This can result in the decline of the market price of securities held by the Balance Fund.

Fixed Income Securities Risk — The Balance Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in fixed income securities. Fixed income securities are subject to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet its principal and interest payment obligations. Market risk is the risk of price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. There is no limitation on the maturities of fixed income securities in which the Balance Fund invests. Securities having longer maturities generally involve greater risk of fluctuations in value resulting from changes in interest rates.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Balance Fund is limited with respect to the amount of its assets it may invest in foreign securities, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers to 15% of the value of its total assets. These investments involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Foreign securities also involve such risks as possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes, possible currency transfer restrictions, expropriation or other adverse political or economic developments and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. These risks may be greater in emerging markets and in less developed countries. For example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be subject to limitation.

Government Securities Risk — The Balance Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government, its agencies or government-sponsored entities. U.S. government securities include issues by non-governmental entities (like financial institutions) that carry direct guarantees from U.S. government agencies as part of government initiatives in response to the market crisis or otherwise. Although the U.S. government guarantees principal and interest payments on securities issued by the U.S. government and some of its agencies, such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), this guarantee does not apply to losses resulting from declines in the market value of these securities. Some of the U.S. government securities that the fund may hold are not guaranteed or backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as those issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Although the U.S. government has recently provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored enterprises in the future.

Growth Stock Risk — The Balance Fund pursues a strategy of investing in growth stocks. Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Growth stocks typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices tend to reflect future expectations. When it appears those expectations will not be met, the prices of growth stocks typically fall. Growth stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market while the market concentrates on undervalued stocks. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry group, it may, like many growth funds, weight its investments toward certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issuers within those industries.

Interest Rate Risk — Interest rates may rise resulting in a decrease in the value of securities held by the Fund, or may fall resulting in an increase in the value of such securities. Securities having longer maturities generally involve a greater risk of fluctuations in the value resulting from changes in interest rates.

Issuer Risk — Changes in the financial condition of the issuer of an obligation, changes in general economic conditions, or changes in economic conditions that affect the issuer may impact its actual or perceived willingness or ability to make timely payments of interest or principal.

Management Risk — The Adviser’s judgment about the quality, relative yield or value of, or market trends affecting, a particular security or sector, or about interest rates generally, may be incorrect. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

Market Risk — The price of a security held by the Fund may fall due to changing market, economic or political conditions.

Risk Characteristics of Options and Futures — Although options and futures transactions are intended to enable the Balance Fund to manage market and interest rate risks, these investments can be highly volatile, and the Balance Fund’s use of them could result in poorer investment performance. The Balance Fund’s use of these investment devices for hedging purposes may not be successful. Successful hedging strategies require the ability to predict future movements in securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors. When the Balance Fund uses futures contracts and options as hedging devices, there is a risk that the prices of the securities subject to the futures contracts and options may not correlate perfectly with the prices of the securities in the Balance Fund’s portfolio. This may cause the futures and options to react to market changes differently than the portfolio securities. In addition, the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations about the direction or extent of market factors, such as interest rates, securities price movements and other economic factors. Even if the expectations of the Adviser are correct, a hedge could be unsuccessful if changes in the value of the Balance Fund’s portfolio securities does not correspond to changes in the value of its futures contracts. The Balance Fund’s ability to establish and close out futures contracts and options on futures contracts positions depends on the availability of a secondary market. If the Balance Fund is unable to close out its position due to disruptions in the market or lack of liquidity, the Balance Fund may lose money on the futures contract or option, and the losses to the Balance Fund could be significant.

Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Balance Fund may engage in short-term trading strategies and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. These policies, together with the ability of the Balance Fund to effect short sales of securities and to engage in transactions in options and futures, may have the effect of increasing the annual rate of portfolio turnover of the Balance Fund. Higher rates of portfolio turnover would likely result in higher brokerage commissions and may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.

Special Situations Risk—“Special situations” include a change in management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale of spin-off of a division or subsidiary which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock. If the actual or prospective situation does not materialize as anticipated, the market price of the securities of a special situation company may decline significantly. There can be no assurance that a special situation that exists at the time of its investment will be consummated under the terms and within the time period contemplated. Investments in “special situations” companies can present greater risks than investments in companies not experiencing special situations.

Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund

Investment Objectives

The Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund (the “Dividend Fund”) seeks high current dividend income that qualifies for the reduced U.S. Federal income tax rates created by the “Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003,” while also focusing on total return for long-term growth of capital.

Principal Investment Strategies

To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances the Dividend Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of certain domestic and foreign corporations that pay dividend income, that it believes are undervalued relative to the market and to the securities’ historic valuations. This includes companies that have announced a special dividend or that they will pay dividends within six months.

The Dividend Fund invests in equity securities issued by U.S. corporations, foreign corporations and foreign issuers whose equity securities are readily traded on an established U.S. or international securities market that pay dividends. The equity securities in which the Dividend Fund invests include primarily common stocks. The Dividend Fund may, from time to time, also invest in preferred stocks, REITs, options and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks, such as convertible debt.

Under normal circumstances, a majority of the Dividend Fund’s investments in equity securities will include those securities that pay qualified dividend income, which is defined in the Code as dividends received during the taxable year from domestic and qualified foreign corporations. A qualified foreign corporation is defined as any corporation that is incorporated in a possession of the United States or is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States. The Dividend Fund is not restricted as to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in non-U.S. issuers, but may only invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in “emerging markets.”

In managing the assets of the Dividend Fund, the Adviser generally pursues a value-oriented approach. The Adviser seeks to identify investment opportunities in equity securities of dividend paying companies that it believes are undervalued relative to the market and to the securities’ historic valuations. This includes companies that have announced a special dividend or that they will pay dividends within six months. Factors that the Adviser considers include fundamental factors such as earnings growth, cash flow, and historical payment of dividends.

In the event that the Adviser determines that a particular company’s dividends qualify for favorable U.S. Federal tax treatment, the Adviser will invest in the equity securities of the company prior to the ex-dividend date (i.e., the date when shareholders no longer are eligible for dividends) and will hold the security for at least 61 days during a 121-day period which begins on the date that is 60 days before the ex-dividend date to enable Fund shareholders to take advantage of the reduced U.S. Federal tax rates. During this period, the Dividend Fund will not hedge its risk of loss with respect to these securities.

Temporary Defensive Positions

The Dividend Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Dividend Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such times, the Dividend Fund may hold certain securities for less than the 61 days described above and, as a result, shareholders may be unable to take advantage of the reduced U.S. Federal income tax rates applicable to any qualifying dividends otherwise attributable to such securities. In addition, during such times, the Dividend Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper, repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the U. S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in other cases, the Dividend Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Main Risks

An investment in the Dividend Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Dividend Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Dividend Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Dividend Fund. By itself, the Dividend Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

Dividend Strategy Risk — The Dividend Fund’s strategy of investing in dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out favor with investors and underperforms the market. Companies that issue dividend paying-stocks are not required to continue to pay dividends on such stocks. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future.

Emerging Market Securities Risk — The Dividend Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in “emerging markets.” Emerging market countries generally include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. The Adviser defines “Western Europe” as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Because of less developed markets and economies and, in some countries, less mature governments and governmental institutions, the risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or operating in emerging market countries. These risks include high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; lack of liquidity and greater price volatility due to the smaller size of the market for such securities and lower trading volume; political and social uncertainties; national policies that may restrict the Dividend Fund’s investment opportunities including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests; greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation and nationalization; over-dependence on exports, especially with respect to primary commodities, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodities prices; overburdened infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

demand for products or services in a particular industry). General market and economic factors may adversely affect securities markets generally, which could in turn adversely affect the value of the Dividend Fund’s investments, regardless of the performance or expected performance of companies in which the Dividend Fund invests.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Dividend Fund is not restricted as to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of foreign issuers, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. These investments involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Foreign securities also involve such risks as possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes, possible currency transfer restrictions, expropriation or other adverse political or economic developments and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. These risks may be greater in emerging markets and in less developed countries. For example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be subject to limitation.

Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Dividend Fund may engage in short-term trading strategies and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. These policies, together with the ability of the Dividend Fund to effect short sales of securities and to engage in transactions in options and futures, may have the effect of increasing the annual rate of portfolio turnover of the Dividend Fund. Higher rates of portfolio turnover would likely result in higher brokerage commissions and may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.

Qualified Dividend Tax Risk — No assurance can be given as to what percentage of the distributions paid on the common shares, if any, will consist of tax-advantaged qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains or what the tax rates on various types of income will be in future years. The favorable U.S. Federal tax treatment may be adversely affected, changed or repealed by future changes in tax laws at any time and is currently scheduled to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain information regarding whether distributions by non-U.S. entities in which the Dividend Fund invests should be regarded as qualified dividend income. Furthermore, to receive qualified dividend income treatment, the Dividend Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying securities in its portfolio, and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Dividend Fund’s common shares.

Undervalued Stocks Risk — The Dividend Fund’s investment strategy includes investing in securities, which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are undervalued. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued stocks is a difficult task and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued stocks offer opportunities for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial losses. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund

Investment Objectives

The Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund (the “Financial Services Fund”) seeks long-term growth of capital and consistent above average total returns as compared to those typical of investments made in public equities.

Principal Investment Strategies

To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances the Financial Services Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of certain U.S. and foreign companies engaged in the financial services industry. These companies may include commercial and industrial banks, savings and loan associations, community savings banks and other thrift institutions, consumer and industrial finance and leasing companies, securities brokerage and investment advisory firms and insurance companies.

In managing the assets of the Financial Services Fund, the Adviser generally pursues a value-oriented approach. The Adviser seeks to identify investment opportunities in equity securities of banks and other financial service companies that it believes are undervalued relative to the market and to the securities’ historic valuations. The equity securities of the financial institutions in which the Financial Services Fund invests are not subject to specific restrictions as to market capitalizations, however, it is expected that the Financial Services Fund’s investment program will emphasize smaller market capitalizations, including micro-cap. Factors that the Adviser considers include fundamental factors such as earnings growth, cash flow, and industry and market–specific trends.

Temporary Defensive Positions

The Financial Services Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Financial Services Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such times, the Financial Services Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper, repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in other cases, the Financial Services Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Main Risks

An investment in the Financial Services Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Financial Services Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Financial Services Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Financial Services Fund. By itself, the Financial Services Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

Financial Services Industry Concentration Risk —Since the Fund will be concentrated in the financial services industry, it will be less diversified than stock funds investing in a broader range of industries and, therefore, could experience significant volatility. The financial services industry is particularly vulnerable to certain factors, such as the availability and cost of borrowing and raising additional capital, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults and price competition. Financial services companies may also be hurt when interest rates rise sharply, although not all companies are affected equally. Financial institutions are subject to extensive government regulation. This regulation may limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments a financial institution can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge. In addition, interest and investment rates are highly sensitive and are determined by many factors beyond a financial institution’s control, including general and local economic conditions (such as inflation, recession, money supply and unemployment) and the monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental agencies such as the Federal Reserve Board. These limitations may have a significant impact on the profitability of a financial institution since profitability is attributable, at least in part, to the institution’s ability to make financial commitments such as loans. Profitability of a financial institution is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of the institution’s funds, and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change. The financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively impact the industry to the extent that borrowers may not be able to repay loans made by financial institutions.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Financial Services Fund may invest an unlimited amount of its net assets in foreign securities, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. These investments involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Foreign securities also involve such risks as possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes, possible currency transfer restrictions, expropriation or other adverse political or economic developments and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. These risks may be greater in emerging markets and in less developed countries. For example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be subject to limitation.

Micro Capitalization Companies Risk — The Financial Services Fund may invest in the stocks of micro-cap companies with capitalizations under $100 million. Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies. Accordingly, the stocks of micro-cap companies may be more volatile and more thinly traded, and therefore more illiquid, than stocks of companies with larger capitalizations.

Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Financial Services Fund may engage in short-term trading strategies and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. These policies, together with the ability of the Financial Services Fund to effect short sales of securities and to engage in transactions in options and futures, may have the effect of increasing the annual rate of portfolio turnover of the Financial Services Fund. Higher rates of portfolio turnover would likely result in higher brokerage commissions and may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.

Small and Medium Capitalization Companies Risk — The Financial Services Fund may invest its assets in banks or other financial services companies, or the securities of issuers that are small or medium capitalization companies. These companies may be newly formed or have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources. The risks associated with these investments are generally greater than those associated with investments in the securities of larger, more well-established companies. Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies. Compared to large companies, smaller companies are more likely to have (i) less information publicly available, (ii) more limited product lines or markets and less mature businesses, (iii) fewer capital resources, (iv) more limited management depth and (v) shorter operating histories. Further, the equity securities of smaller companies are often traded over-the-counter and generally experience a lower trading volume than is typical for securities that are traded on a national securities exchange. Consequently, the Financial Services Fund may be required to dispose of these securities over a longer period of time (and potentially at less favorable prices) than would be the case for securities of larger companies, offering greater potential for gains and losses and associated tax consequences.

Special Situations Risk-“Special situations” include a change in management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale of spin-off of a division or subsidiary which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock. If the actual or prospective situation does not materialize as anticipated, the market price of the securities of a special situation company may decline significantly. There can be no assurance that a special situation that exists at the time of its investment will be consummated under the terms and within the time period contemplated. Investments in “special situations” companies can present greater risks than investments in companies not experiencing special situations.

Undervalued Stocks Risk — The Financial Services Fund’s investment strategy includes investing in securities, which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are undervalued. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued stocks is a difficult task and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued stocks offer opportunities for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial losses. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund

Investment Objective

The Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund (the “Innovators Fund”) seeks capital appreciation.

Principal Investment Strategies

To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances the Innovators Fund primarily invests its net assets in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that the Adviser believes have a competitive advantage and offer superior growth potential due to the innovative nature of each company’s products, technology or business model. Such equity securities will primarily include common stocks listed on public exchanges, but may include securities acquired through direct investments or private placements. The Innovators Fund’s investments may also include other types of equity or equity-related securities, including convertible preferred stock or debt, rights and warrants. Investments may also be made to a limited degree in non-convertible debt securities that offer an opportunity for capital appreciation.

Factors that the Adviser considers include, but are not limited to, demonstrated technological leadership, new disruptive technologies, introduction of new and better products, innovative business models, potential for merger or acquisition and potential to benefit from deregulation or consolidation events. The Adviser considers “disruptive technologies” to be of a kind to alter a company’s methods of production, or to modify existing processes, and which serve to create new techniques for delivering value to customers.

Temporary Defensive Positions

The Innovators Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Innovators Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such times, the Innovators Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper, repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the U. S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in other cases, the Innovators Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Main Risks

An investment in the Innovators Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Innovators Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Innovators Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Innovators Fund. By itself, the Innovators Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Innovators Fund may invest up to the value of 20% of its total assets in foreign securities, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. These investments involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Foreign securities also involve such risks as possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes, possible currency transfer restrictions, expropriation or other adverse political or economic developments and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. These risks may be greater in emerging markets and in less developed countries. For example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be subject to limitation.

Management Risk — The Innovators Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. The Innovators Fund’s successful pursuit of its investment objective depends upon the Adviser’s ability to identify innovative companies that will experience growth. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause a Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leaves the employ of the Adviser, the Adviser may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Innovators Fund from achieving its investment objective.

Micro Capitalization Companies Risk — The Innovators Fund may invest in the stocks of micro-cap companies with capitalizations under $100 million. Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies. Accordingly, the stocks of micro-cap companies may be more volatile and more thinly traded, and therefore more illiquid, than stocks of companies with larger capitalizations.

Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Innovators Fund may engage in short-term trading strategies and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. These policies, together with the ability of the Innovators Fund to effect short sales of securities and to engage in transactions in options and futures, may have the effect of increasing the annual rate of portfolio turnover of the Innovators Fund. Higher rates of portfolio turnover would likely result in higher brokerage commissions and may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.

Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — The Innovators Fund will invest in the securities of issuers that are small or medium capitalization companies. These companies may be newly formed or have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources. The risks associated with these investments are generally greater than those associated with investments in the securities of larger, more well-established companies. Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies. Compared to large companies, smaller companies are more likely to have (i) less information publicly available, (ii) more limited product lines or markets and less mature businesses, (iii) fewer capital resources, (iv) more limited management depth and (v) shorter operating histories. Innovative companies may lack profitability which in turn may result in the lack of innovative support. Further, the equity securities of smaller companies are often traded over-the-counter and generally experience a lower trading volume than is typical for securities that are traded on a national securities exchange. Consequently, the Innovators Fund may be required to dispose of these securities over a longer period of time (and potentially at less favorable prices) than would be the case for securities of larger companies, offering greater potential for gains and losses and associated tax consequences.

Undervalued Stocks Risk — The Innovators Fund’s investment strategy includes investing in securities, which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are undervalued. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued stocks is a difficult task and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued stocks offer opportunities for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial losses. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund

Investment Objective

The Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund (the “Transformations Fund”) seeks capital appreciation.

Principal Investment Strategies

To achieve its objective, under normal circumstances, the Transformations Fund seeks to invest in companies that, in the Adviser’s estimation, are entering or on the verge of entering an accelerated growth period catalyzed by transformation. The Adviser believes that companies may experience transformation by (i) using existing assets more effectively, including through reorganization or rejuvenation of its management or business model or (ii) developing new concepts, including product, technology or business model concepts. The Adviser believes that acceleration and deceleration of every company’s growth is inevitable during its life cycle. The Adviser seeks to identify companies that are poised for transformation and an accelerated growth period by evaluating corporate management and its strategic capabilities, the competitive environment of a company and the company’s resources available for mobilization.

The Transformations Fund does not have a policy to concentrate its investments in securities of issuers in any particular industry, but rather the Adviser seeks to identify businesses that are well positioned to benefit from corporate transformation. Factors that the Adviser considers include, but are not limited to, strong financial resources, new or reorganized corporate management, demonstrated technological leadership, introduction of new and better products, innovative business models and potential to benefit from deregulation. In addition, these factors may indicate to the Adviser that a company has potential for transformation in the form of a merger or acquisition or other consolidation event, any of which may stimulate growth.

The Transformations Fund may invest without limitation in foreign securities, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. Although it is not the Transformations Fund’s current intent, the Transformations Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in the securities of non-U.S. issuers and is not restricted on how much may be invested in the issuers of any single country, provided the Transformations Fund limits its investments in countries that are considered emerging markets to no more than 35% of the Transformations Fund’s net assets at any one time.

Equity securities in which the Transformations Fund invests will primarily include common stocks listed on public exchanges, but may include securities acquired through direct investments or private placements, subject to the Transformations Fund’s limitation on

holding illiquid securities. The Transformations Fund’s investments may also include other types of equity or equity-related securities, including convertible preferred stock or debt, rights and warrants.

Temporary Defensive Positions

The Transformations Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Transformations Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such times, the Transformations Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper, repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in other cases, the Transformations Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Main Risks

An investment in the Transformations Fund is subject to certain risks. The value of the Transformations Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Transformations Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Transformations Fund. By itself, the Transformations Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

Emerging Market Securities Risk— The Transformations Fund may invest up to 35% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in “emerging markets.” The Transformations Fund considers an “emerging market” country to be any country that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “World Bank”). Emerging market countries generally include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. The Adviser defines “Western Europe” as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Because of less developed markets and economies and, in some countries, less mature governments and governmental institutions, the risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or operating in emerging market countries. These risks include high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; lack of liquidity and greater price volatility due to the smaller size of the market for such securities and lower trading volume; political and social uncertainties; national policies that may restrict the Transformations Fund’s investment opportunities including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests; greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation and nationalization; over-dependence on exports, especially with respect to primary commodities, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodities prices; overburdened infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Transformations Fund may invest an unlimited amount of its net assets in foreign securities, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. These investments involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Foreign securities also involve such risks as currency fluctuation risk, possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes, possible currency transfer restrictions, expropriation or other adverse political or economic developments and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. These risks may be greater in emerging markets and in less developed countries. For example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be subject to limitation.

Management Risk — The Transformations Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. The Transformations Fund’s successful pursuit of its investment objective depends upon the Adviser’s ability to identify companies that will experience growth or a period of decelerated growth and time the purchase and sale of the securities of any such company so as to benefit from a growth period. The Adviser’s security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Transformations Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leaves the employ of the Adviser, the Adviser may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Transformations Fund from achieving its investment objective.

Micro Capitalization Companies Risk — The Transformations Fund may invest in the stocks of micro-cap companies with capitalizations under $100 million. Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies. Accordingly, the stocks of micro-cap companies may be more volatile and more thinly traded, and therefore more illiquid, than stocks of companies with larger capitalizations.

Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Transformations Fund may engage in short-term trading strategies and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. These policies, together with the ability of the Transformations Fund to effect short sales of securities and to engage in transactions in options and futures, may have the effect of increasing the annual rate of portfolio turnover of the Transformations Fund. Higher rates of portfolio turnover would likely result in higher brokerage commissions and may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.

Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — The Transformations Fund will invest in the securities of issuers that are small or medium capitalization companies. These companies may be newly formed or have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources. The risks associated with these investments are generally greater than those associated with investments in the securities of larger, more well-established companies. Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies. Compared to large companies, smaller companies are more likely to have (i) less information publicly available, (ii) more limited product lines or markets and less mature businesses, (iii) fewer capital resources, (iv) more limited management depth and (v) shorter operating histories. Further, the equity securities of smaller companies are often traded over-the-counter and generally experience a lower trading volume than is typical for securities that are traded on a national securities exchange. Consequently, the Transformations Fund may be required to dispose of these securities over a longer period of time (and potentially at less favorable prices) than would be the case for securities of larger companies, offering greater potential for gains and losses and associated tax consequences.

Transformation Risk — The Adviser seeks to invest in the securities of companies that the Adviser believes are entering or on the verge of entering a corporate transformation. Such transformation may be catalyzed by any of the following events, among others, reorganization of management structure, introduction of new corporate leadership, merger, acquisition or divestiture of assets or other corporate transaction, and reorganization or rejuvenation of product lines, lines of service, geographic service area or facilities. No assurance can be made that these catalysts will result in the vigorous growth anticipated by the Adviser or such growth may be significantly delayed. This could prevent the Transformations Fund from achieving its investment objective.

Undervalued Stocks Risk — The Transformations Fund’s investment strategy includes investing in securities, which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are undervalued. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued stocks is a difficult task and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued stocks offer opportunities for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial losses. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund

Investment Objectives

Principal Investment Strategies

To achieve its objective, under stable market conditions, the Accelerating Dividend Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of certain domestic and foreign companies that pay dividends. The Accelerating Dividend Fund seeks to provide dividend income without regard to whether the dividends qualify for the reduced U.S. Federal income tax rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Code. Under normal circumstances, the Accelerating Dividend Fund expects to invest in the equity securities of U.S. issuers, as well as in non-U.S. issuers. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds.

The Accelerating Dividend Fund’s dividend strategy seeks to invest in issuers with a history of or a potential for accelerating dividends. The Accelerating Dividend Fund considers “accelerating dividends” to be dividends that increase over time and where the amount of such increases grows over time. In selecting issuers, the Adviser analyzes each company’s dividend history, free cash flow and dividend payout ratios to assess that company’s potential to provide accelerating dividends as well as the sustainability of dividend growth. In addition, the Adviser evaluates each company’s business model, market position and management team.

The Accelerating Dividend Fund uses a multi-cap, multi-sector, multi-style approach to invest in the securities of issuers of any capitalization level (small, mid or large) and in any sector or industry.

The Accelerating Dividend Fund intends to invest in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, including those in emerging markets. The Accelerating Dividend Fund is not restricted with respect to how much it may invest in the issuers of any single country or the amount it may invest in non-U.S. issuers, provided the Accelerating Dividend Fund limits its investments in countries that are considered emerging markets to no more than 25% of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s net assets at any one time. An “emerging market” country is any country that is listed on the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Allocation of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s assets among countries is dependent on the economic outlook of those countries and the dividends available in their markets. The Accelerating Dividend Fund screens the U.S. and foreign issuers in which it considers investing using the same criteria, including accelerating dividends, sufficiently liquid trading in an established market, and also its judgment that the issuer may have good prospects for earnings growth or may be undervalued.

Certain of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s investment strategies may limit the amount of dividend income the Accelerating Dividend Fund receives from qualifying for the reduced U.S. Federal income tax rates applicable to qualified dividends under the Code. As a result, there can be no assurance as to what portion of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s distributions will be designated as qualified dividend income. See “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

Temporary Defensive Positions

The Accelerating Dividend Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s principal investment strategies to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such times, the Accelerating Dividend Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including money market instruments, prime commercial paper, repurchase agreements, Treasury bills and other short-term obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. In these and in other cases, the Accelerating Dividend Fund may not achieve its investment objectives.

Main Risks

An investment in the Accelerating Dividend Fund, like any investment, is subject to certain risks. The value of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s investments will increase or decrease based on changes in the prices of the investments it holds. This will cause the value of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. You could lose money by investing in the Accelerating Dividend Fund. By itself, the Accelerating Dividend Fund does not constitute a balanced investment program.

Dividend Strategy Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund’s strategy of investing in dividend-paying stocks involves the risk that such stocks may fall out favor with investors and underperforms the market. Companies that issue dividend paying-stocks are not required to continue to pay dividends on such stocks. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future.

Emerging Market Securities Risk— The Accelerating Dividend Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of issuers located in “emerging markets.” The Accelerating Dividend Fund considers an “emerging market” country to be any country that is listed on the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Emerging market countries generally include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. The Adviser defines “Western Europe” as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Because of less developed markets and economies and, in some countries, less mature governments and governmental institutions, the risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or operating in emerging market countries. These risks include high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; lack of liquidity and greater price volatility due to the smaller size of the market for such securities and lower trading volume; political and social uncertainties; national policies that may restrict the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s investment opportunities including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests; greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation and nationalization; over-dependence on exports, especially with respect to primary commodities, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodities prices; overburdened

infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.

Foreign Securities Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund is not limited with respect to the amount of its assets it may invest in foreign securities, including direct investments in securities of foreign issuers and investments in depositary receipts (such as ADRs) that represent indirect interests in securities of foreign issuers. These investments involve certain risks not generally associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Public information available concerning foreign issuers may be more limited than would be with respect to domestic issuers. Different accounting standards may be used by foreign issuers, and foreign trading markets may not be as liquid as U.S. markets. Currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Foreign securities also involve such risks as possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes, possible currency transfer restrictions, expropriation or other adverse political or economic developments and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. These risks may be greater in emerging markets and in less developed countries. For example, prior governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in some emerging market countries, and the extent of foreign investment may be subject to limitation.

Growth Stock Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund pursues a strategy of investing in growth stocks. Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings. Growth stocks typically are very sensitive to market movements because their market prices tend to reflect future expectations. When it appears those expectations will not be met, the prices of growth stocks typically fall. Growth stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market while the market concentrates on undervalued stocks. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry group, it may, like many growth funds, weight its investments toward certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issuers within those industries.

Investment Company Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, which may include open-end funds, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds and unit investment trusts, subject to the limits set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) or the rules thereunder, that apply to those types of investments, or subject to the limits of certain exemptive orders under the 1940 Act. The market value of the shares of other investment companies may differ from the net asset value of the particular fund. The shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Accelerating Dividend Fund would bear its pro rata portion of that entity’s expenses, including the entity’s management fees. At the same time, the Accelerating Dividend Fund would continue to pay its own management fee and other expenses. As a result, the Accelerating Dividend Fund and its shareholders, in effect, will be absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in other investment companies.

Management Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. The Accelerating Dividend Fund’s successful pursuit of its investment objectives depends upon the Adviser’s ability to identify issuers with the potential for accelerating dividends. Such situations occur infrequently and sporadically and may be difficult to predict, and may not result in a favorable pricing opportunity that allows the Adviser to fulfill the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s investment objectives. The Adviser’s securities selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Accelerating Dividend Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leave the employ of the Adviser, the Adviser may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Accelerating Dividend Fund from achieving its investment objectives.

Portfolio Turnover Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund may engage in short-term trading strategies and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. These policies, together with the ability of the Accelerating Dividend Fund to effect short sales of securities and to engage in transactions in options and futures, may have the effect of increasing the annual rate of portfolio turnover of the Accelerating Dividend Fund. Higher rates of portfolio turnover would likely result in higher brokerage commissions and may generate short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income.

Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk — The Accelerating Dividend Fund may invest in the securities of issuers that are small or medium capitalization companies. These companies may be newly formed or have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial and managerial resources. The risks associated with these investments are generally greater than those associated with investments in the securities of larger, more well-established companies. This may cause the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s share price to be more volatile when compared to investment companies that focus only on large capitalization companies. Securities of small or medium capitalization companies are more likely to experience sharper swings in market values, less liquid

markets, in which it may be more difficult for the Adviser to sell at times and at prices that the Adviser believes appropriate and generally are more volatile than those of larger companies. Compared to large companies, smaller companies are more likely to have (i) less information publicly available, (ii) more limited product lines or markets and less mature businesses, (iii) fewer capital resources, (iv) more limited management depth and (v) shorter operating histories. Further, the equity securities of smaller companies are often traded over-the-counter and generally experience a lower trading volume than is typical for securities that are traded on a national securities exchange. Consequently, the Accelerating Dividend Fund may be required to dispose of these securities over a longer period of time (and potentially at less favorable prices) than would be the case for securities of larger companies, offering greater potential for gains and losses and associated tax consequences.

Undervalued Stocks Risk— The Accelerating Dividend Fund’s investment strategy includes investing in securities, which, in the opinion of the Adviser, are undervalued. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued stocks is a difficult task and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued stocks offer opportunities for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial losses. Although the Fund will not concentrate its investments in any one industry or industry groups, it may weigh its investments towards certain industries, thus increasing its exposure to factors adversely affecting issues within these industries.

The Funds’ Investments and Related Risks

This section provides additional information regarding the securities in which each Fund invests, the investment techniques each uses and the risks associated with each Fund’s investment program in addition to the risks set forth under “Main Risks” above. A more detailed description of each Fund’s investment policies and restrictions, and additional information about each Fund’s investments, is contained in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

Convertible Securities (all Funds) —The Funds can invest in securities that can be exercised for or converted into common stocks (such as warrants or convertible preferred stock). While offering greater potential for long-term growth, common stocks and similar equity securities are more volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment. Therefore, the value of your investment in the Funds may sometimes decrease instead of increase. Convertible securities include other securities, such as warrants, that provide an opportunity for equity participation. Because convertible securities can be converted into equity securities, their values will normally increase or decrease as the values of the underlying equity securities increase or decrease. The movements in the prices of convertible securities, however, may be smaller than the movements in the value of the underlying equity securities.

Equity-Linked Securities (all Funds) — The Funds may invest in equity-linked securities, including, but not limited to, participation notes, certificates, and equity swaps. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of stocks, or a single stock. To the extent that the Funds invest in equity-linked securities whose return corresponds to the performance of a foreign security index or one or more foreign stocks, investing in equity-linked securities will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities and subject to each Fund’s restrictions on investments in foreign securities. See “Foreign Securities” and “Foreign Securities Risk” above. In addition, the Funds bear the risk that the counterparty of an equity-linked security may default on its obligations under the security. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, the equity-linked security would also be considered illiquid and thus subject to each Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid securities.

Fixed Income Securities (all Funds) — The Funds may invest in bonds and other types of debt obligations of the U.S. Government (or its agents or instrumentalities) and corporate issuers. They may also invest in money market instruments, which are high quality short-term debt obligations. These securities may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest, and may include zero coupon obligations which do not pay interest until maturity. The Funds invest primarily in high quality debt obligations. These include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, and corporate debt obligations rated at the time of purchase by the Funds “A” or better by S&P or by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or, if unrated determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser.

Hedging (all Funds) — The Funds may utilize a variety of financial instruments, such as derivatives, options, interest rate swaps, caps and floors and forward contracts, both for investment purposes and for risk management purposes. While the Funds may enter into hedging transactions to seek to reduce risk, such transactions may result in a poorer overall performance for a Fund than if it has not engaged in any such hedging transaction. Moreover, it should be noted that the portfolio will always be exposed to certain risks that cannot be hedged, such as credit risk (relating both to particular securities and counterparties).

Illiquid Securities (all Funds) — Illiquid securities include securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale, securities that are not readily marketable, and repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. Illiquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired or at prices approximating the value at which the Fund is carrying the securities. The Funds may invest up to 15% of the value of their net assets in illiquid securities, including restricted securities and

repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. However, the Funds may not hold more than 10% of the value of their net assets in such repurchase agreements.

Micro Capitalization Companies Risk (Financial Services Fund, Innovators Fund and Transformations Fund) — The Financial Services Fund, Innovators Fund and Transformations Fund may invest in the stocks of micro-cap companies with capitalizations under $100 million. Investments in micro-cap companies are associated with similar risks as investments in small and medium capitalization companies, but these risks may be even greater with respect to investments in micro-cap companies. Accordingly, the stocks of micro-cap companies may be more volatile and more thinly traded, and therefore more illiquid, than stocks of companies with larger capitalizations.

Preferred Stock Risk (Balance Fund, Dividend Fund, Financial Services Fund, Innovators Fund and Transformations Fund). — The Balance Fund, the Dividend Fund, the Financial Services Fund, the Innovators Fund and the Transformations Fund may invest in preferred stocks. Preferred stock represents an interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of common stock, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred stock has investment characteristics of both fixed income and equity securities. However, the value of these securities tends to vary more with fluctuations in the underlying common stock and less with fluctuations in interest rates and tends to exhibit greater volatility.

Qualified Dividend Tax Risk (Dividend Fund and Accelerating Dividend Fund) — No assurance can be given as to what percentage of the distributions paid on the common shares, if any, will consist of tax-advantaged qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains or what the tax rates on various types of income will be in future years. The favorable U.S. Federal tax treatment may be adversely affected, changed or repealed by future changes in tax laws at any time and is currently scheduled to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain information regarding whether distributions by non-U.S. entities in which the Dividend Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund invest should be regarded as qualified dividend income. Furthermore, to receive qualified dividend income treatment, the Dividend Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying securities in their portfolios, and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the common shares of the Dividend Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund.

Repurchase Agreements (all Funds) — The Funds may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is an agreement by which the Funds purchase a security (usually U.S. Government securities) for cash and obtains a simultaneous commitment from the seller (usually a bank or dealer) to repurchase the security at an agreed upon price and specified future date. The repurchase price reflects an agreed upon interest rate for the time period of the agreement. Each Fund’s risk is the inability of the seller to pay the agreed upon price on the delivery date. However, this risk is tempered by the ability of the Funds to sell the security in the open market in the case of a default. In such a case, the Funds may incur costs in disposing of the security which would increase each Fund’s expenses. The Adviser monitors the creditworthiness of the firms with which the Funds enter into repurchase agreements.

Risk Characteristics of Options and Futures (all Funds) — Although options and futures transactions are intended to enable the Funds to manage market and interest rate risks, these investments can be highly volatile, and each Fund’s use of them could result in poorer investment performance. Each Fund’s use of these investment devices for hedging purposes may not be successful. Successful hedging strategies require the ability to predict future movements in securities prices, interest rates and other economic factors. When the Funds use futures contracts and options as hedging devices, there is a risk that the prices of the securities subject to the futures contracts and options may not correlate perfectly with the prices of the securities in each Fund’s portfolio. This may cause the futures and options to react to market changes differently than the portfolio securities. In addition, the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations about the direction or extent of market factors, such as interest rates, securities price movements and other economic factors. Even if the expectations of the Adviser are correct, a hedge could be unsuccessful if changes in the value of each Fund’s portfolio securities does not correspond to changes in the value of its futures contracts. Each Fund’s ability to establish and close out futures contracts and options on futures contracts positions depends on the availability of a secondary market. If a Fund is unable to close out its position due to disruptions in the market or lack of liquidity, the Fund may lose money on the futures contract or option, and the losses to the Fund could be significant.

Rule 144A Securities (all Funds) — The Funds may invest in restricted securities that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “1933 Act”). Generally, Rule 144A establishes a safe harbor from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act for resale by large institutional investors of securities that are not publicly traded. The Adviser determines the liquidity of the Rule 144A securities according to guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Board of Trustees”). The Board of Trustees monitors the application of those guidelines and procedures. Securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, which are determined to be liquid, are not subject to each Fund’s limitation on the amount of illiquid securities it may purchase.

Securities Lending (Balance Fund and Financial Services Fund) — In order to generate income, the Balance Fund and the Financial Services Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The Balance Fund and the Financial Services Fund will only enter into loan arrangements with creditworthy borrowers and will receive collateral in the form of cash or securities issued by the U.S. government having a value at all times not less than 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Loans of securities by the Balance Fund and the Financial Services Fund may not exceed 30% of the value of each Fund’s net assets. There is a risk that the loaned securities may not be available to the Balance Fund and the Financial Services Fund on a timely basis and the Balance Fund and the Financial Services Fund may, therefore, lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable price. Also, if the borrower files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the ability of the Balance Fund and the Financial Services Fund to dispose of the securities may be delayed.

Where a Fund receives securities as collateral, the Fund receives a fee for its loans from the borrower and does not receive the income on the collateral. Where a Fund receives cash collateral, it may invest such collateral and retain the amount earned, net of any amount rebated to the borrower. As a result, the Fund’s yield may increase. Loans of securities are terminable at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within the standard time period for settlement of securities transactions. The Fund is obligated to return the collateral to the borrower at the termination of the loan. A Fund could suffer a loss in the event the Fund must return the cash collateral and there are losses on investments made with the cash collateral. In the event the borrower defaults on any of its obligations with respect to a securities loan, a Fund could suffer a loss where there are losses on investments made with the cash collateral or where the value of the securities collateral falls below the market value of the borrowed securities. A Fund could also experience delays and costs in gaining access to the collateral. Each Fund may pay reasonable finder’s, lending agent, administrative and custodial fees in connection with its loans.

Use of Leverage and Short Sales (all Funds) — Subject to certain limitations, the Funds may use leverage in connection with their investment activities and may effect short sales of securities. These investment practices involve special risks. Leverage is the practice of borrowing money to purchase securities. It can increase the investment returns of a Fund if the securities purchased increase in value in an amount exceeding the cost of the borrowing. However, if the securities decrease in value, a Fund will suffer a greater loss than would have resulted without the use of leverage. A short sale is the sale by a Fund of a security which it does not own in anticipation of purchasing the same security in the future at a lower price to close the short position. A short sale will be successful if the price of the shorted security decreases. However, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period in which the short position is outstanding, the Fund will realize a loss. The risk on a short sale is unlimited because a Fund must buy the shorted security at the higher price to complete the transaction. Therefore, short sales may be subject to greater risks than investments in long positions. With a long position, the maximum sustainable loss is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum attainable price of the shorted security. A Fund would also incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, if a Fund sells securities short, it must maintain a segregated account with its custodian containing cash or high-grade securities equal to (i) the greater of the current market value of the securities sold short or the market value of such securities at the time they were sold short, less (ii) any collateral deposited with a Fund’s broker (not including the proceeds from the short sales). A Fund may be required to add to the segregated account as the market price of a shorted security increases. As a result of maintaining and adding to its segregated account, a Fund may maintain higher levels of cash or liquid assets (for example, U.S. Treasury bills, repurchase agreements, high quality commercial paper and long equity positions) for collateral needs thus reducing its overall managed assets available for trading purposes.

When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions (all Funds) — Each Fund may enter into transactions in which it commits to buy a security, but does not pay for or take delivery of the security until some specified date in the future. The value of these securities is subject to market fluctuation during this period and no income accrues to the Fund until settlement. At the time of settlement, the value of a security may be less than its purchase price. When entering into these transactions, the Fund relies on the other party to consummate the transaction; if the other party fails to do so, the Fund may be disadvantaged. The Funds do not intend to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis for speculative purposes, but only in furtherance of their investment objectives.

Other Investments (all Funds) — The Funds may use a variety of other investment instruments in pursuing their investment programs. The investments of the Funds may include: mortgage-backed securities; securities of other investment companies; and various derivative instruments, including but not limited to options on securities, stock index options, options on foreign currencies, forward foreign currency contracts and futures contracts. Various risks are associated with these investments.

Portfolio Holding Information

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ SAI. Currently, disclosure of the Funds’ holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q. The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports will be available by contacting Alpine Funds c/o Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., PO Box 8061, Boston, MA 02266 or calling 1-888-785-5578 or electronically on the Funds’ website at www.alpinefunds.com.

Management of the Funds

The management of each Fund is supervised by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”). Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC, located at 2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215, Purchase, New York 10577 serves as the Funds’ investment adviser.

Investment Adviser

The Adviser is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a privately owned investment management firm that manages a family of open-end mutual funds (the “Alpine Funds”), three closed-end funds and also provides institutional investment management. The Adviser began conducting business in March 1998 and, together with its affiliated entities, had approximately $5.9 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2010. The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company organized on December 3, 1997. All membership interests in the Adviser are owned by Alpine Woods, L.P. Mr. Samuel A. Lieber has a majority interest in this partnership and is the controlling person of its general partner. He co-founded the Adviser in 1998 with his father, Stephen A. Lieber.

Under the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser carries out the investment and reinvestment of the managed assets of the Funds, will furnish continuously an investment program with respect to the Funds, will determine which securities should be purchased, sold or exchanged, and will implement such determinations. The Adviser furnishes to the Funds investment advice and office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Funds. The Adviser compensates all Trustees and officers of the Funds who are members of the Adviser’s organization and who render investment services to the Funds, and will also compensate all other Adviser personnel who provide research and investment services to the Funds. In return for these services, facilities and payments, the Funds have each agreed to pay the Adviser as compensation under the Investment Advisory Agreement a monthly fee computed at the annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Funds.

The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to absorb expenses of the Funds to the extent necessary to ensure that ordinary operating expenses of the Funds (including 12b-1 fees, but excluding interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed annually 1.60% of Class A Shares of each of the Fund’s average net assets. The Funds have agreed to repay the Adviser in the amount of any fees waived and Fund expenses absorbed, subject to the limitations that: (1) the reimbursement is made only for fees and expenses incurred not more than three years prior to the date of reimbursement; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the annual expense limitation to be exceeded. This arrangement will remain in effect unless and until the Board of Trustees approves its modification or termination. The total estimated annual expenses of the Funds are set forth in the section titled “FEES AND EXPENSES.”

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds’ investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust on behalf of each of the Funds is available in the Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ending April 30, 2011.

Legal Proceedings

On February 7, 2011, Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC (“Alpine”) and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Samuel A. Lieber, settled administrative proceedings brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The settlement relates to Alpine’s record-keeping, compliance policies and procedures and disclosures—particularly, in relation to initial public offering investment activities—during the period February 1, 2006 through January 31, 2008, and the violations alleged in the order pertain to statutory provisions and SEC rules that are non-fraud based. In the settlement, Alpine and Mr. Lieber agreed, without admitting or denying the findings in the administrative order, to the entry of an order requiring it to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of certain statutory provisions and SEC rules that relate to fund disclosures, books and records and compliance policies and procedures. Alpine consented to a censure and to pay the SEC a civil monetary penalty of $650,000. Mr. Lieber consented to pay the SEC a civil monetary penalty of $65,000. The settlement does not impose any restriction on Alpine’s business or on Mr. Lieber’s continued ability to serve as the CEO of Alpine or as manager of any fund portfolios. In the order, the SEC acknowledged that, both before and during the SEC staff’s investigation, and before the settlement, Alpine already had made a number of significant changes to, and enhancements of, its personnel, policies, and procedures concerning the matters involved in the proceedings. No other current or former Alpine-related entities or employees are subject to the SEC order.

Portfolio Managers

Balance Fund, Innovators Fund, Transformations Fund and Accelerating Dividend Fund
Mr. Samuel A. Lieber and Mr. Stephen A. Lieber serve as co-portfolio managers of the Balance Fund, Innovators Fund and Accelerating Dividend Fund and are the persons who have day-to-day responsibility for managing the Balance Fund’s, the Innovators Fund’s and the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s portfolio. Mr. Bryan Keane and Mr. Andrew Kohl are co-portfolio managers of the Accelerating Dividend Fund. Stephen A. Lieber serves as portfolio manager of the Transformations Fund and is the person who has day-to-day responsibility for managing the Transformations Fund’s portfolio. In addition, Ms. Sarah Hunt will assist in managing the Innovators Fund’s and the Transformations Fund’s portfolio as associate portfolio manager.

Samuel A. Lieber founded the Adviser (formerly Alpine Management & Research, LLC) with his father Stephen A. Lieber, and is its Chief Executive Officer. He currently serves as portfolio manager of the Transformations Fund, Alpine International Real Estate Equity Fund, the Alpine Cyclical Advantage Property Fund, and the Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund and co-portfolio manager of the Dividend Fund, the Balance Fund, the Innovators Fund, the Alpine Emerging Markets Real Estate Fund, the Alpine Global Infrastructure Fund and the Alpine Global Consumer Growth Fund. Mr. Lieber is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the Trust. Mr. Lieber received his Bachelor’s degree (with high honors) from Wesleyan University and attended the New York University Graduate School of Business and New York University’s Real Estate Institute.

Stephen A. Lieber is the Executive Vice President of the Trust. He is Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser.

Sarah Hunt joined Alpine in 2007 after ten years at Capital Management Associates, Inc., where she was a Senior Vice President of Equity Research.

Bryan Keane joined Alpine in April 2007 after four years at the United States Trust Company, where he was a Senior Vice President, Senior Analyst, responsible for conducting research in the consumer and technology sectors. From September 1999 through April 2003, he was a Vice President, Senior Analyst at Wafra Investment Advisory Group, where his responsibilities included research in the consumer, technology and telecommunications sectors. Prior to his time at Wafra, he was a Senior Analyst at the Value Line Investment Survey for three years, covering a wide range of industries. Mr. Keane earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wesleyan University and received his M.B.A. in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business. He also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the New York Society of Security Analysts.

Andrew Kohl joined Alpine in September 2005 after working for two years at Wachovia Securities as an Equity Research Associate Analyst covering infrastructure software and data storage companies. Prior to that position he spent three years at Putnam Investments as a Senior Investment Associate on the Global Asset Allocation team. Mr. Kohl earned a bachelor’s degree at Williams College, an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Dividend Fund
Jill K. Evans and Kevin Shacknofsky serve as co-portfolio managers of the Dividend Fund and are the persons who have day-to-day responsibility for managing the Dividend Fund’s portfolio. Ms. Evans and Mr. Shacknofsky will be assisted in the management of the Dividend Fund by associate portfolio managers Mr. Joshua Duitz and Mr. Brian Hennessey.

Jill K. Evans joined the Adviser in May 2003 and has served as Portfolio Manager of the Dividend Fund since its inception in September 2003, the Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol “AGD”, since its inception in July 2006 and of the Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol “AOD”, since its inception in January 2007.

Kevin Shacknofsky joined the Adviser in October 2003 as an analyst dedicated to the Dividend Fund and was promoted to associate Portfolio Manager in June 2004 and to Portfolio Manager for the Dividend Fund in June 2006. Mr. Shacknofsky has also served as Portfolio Manager of the Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol “AGD”, since its inception in July 2006 and of the Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol “AOD,” since its inception in January 2007. Mr. Shacknofsky has primary responsibility managing the international portfolio and dividend capture rotation and special dividend strategies of the Dividend Fund.

Mr. Joshua Duitz joined Alpine in February 2007, after eight years at Bear Stearns, where Mr. Duitz was a Managing Director Principal who specialized in trading international equities.

Mr. Brian Hennessey joined Alpine in December 2008, after eight years of investment experience. Mr. Hennessey has previously worked at Tribeca Global Investments (a former unit of Citigroup) and Litespeed Partners, Partners Re Asset Management and Putnam Investments. Mr. Hennessey earned a bachelor’s degree at Williams College, an M.B.A. from MIT Sloan School of Management, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Financial Services Fund
Mr. Peter J. Kovalski and Mr. Stephen Lieber are responsible for the day-to-day investments of the Financial Services Fund.

Mr. Kovalski is Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group, of Saxon Woods Advisors, LLC and the portfolio manager for Alpine Woods Growth Values Financial Equities, L.P.

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

How the Funds Value Their Shares

The price of each Fund’s shares is based on the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). You may buy, exchange or redeem shares at their net asset value next determined after receipt of your request in good order, adjusted for any applicable sales charge. Because of the differences in distribution fees and class-specific expenses, the per share NAV of each class will differ. The net asset value of shares of each Fund is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s net assets by the number of the Fund’s outstanding shares. The net asset value takes into account the fees and expenses of the Fund, including management, administration and other fees, which are accrued daily. The price at which a purchase or redemption is effected is based on the net asset value next computed after a Fund or its agents receive your request in good order. All requests received in good order before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), whichever occurs earlier (the “cut off time”), will be executed at the net asset value computed on that same day. Requests received after the cut off time (except for requests made on behalf of certain eligible retirement accounts and other omnibus accounts (such as 401(k), 403(b), 457, Keogh, Profit Sharing Plans, Money Purchase Pensions Plans, accounts held under trust agreements at a trust institution, accounts held at a brokerage, or “Fund Supermarkets”)) will receive the next business day’s net asset value. In computing net asset value, portfolio securities of the Funds are valued at their current market values determined on the basis of market quotations. If market quotations are not readily available, securities are valued at fair value in accordance with fair value procedure adopted by the Board. The Funds will use a independent party pricing service or, if unavailable, fair value pricing where: (i) a security is illiquid (restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days); (ii) the market or exchange for a security is closed on an ordinary trading day and no other market prices are available; (iii) the security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions in the security over an extended period; or (iv) the validity of a market quotation received is questionable. In addition, fair value pricing will be used if emergency or unusual situations have occurred, such as when trading of a security on an exchange is suspended; or when an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which the security is principally traded that is likely to have changed the value of the security before the NAV is calculated (applicable to foreign securities).

Fair Value Pricing. The trading hours for most foreign securities end prior to the close of the NYSE, the time each Fund’s net asset value is calculated. The occurrence of certain events after the close of foreign markets, but prior to the close of the U.S. market (such as a significant surge or decline in the U.S. market) often will result in an adjustment to the trading prices of foreign securities when foreign markets open on the following business day. If such events occur, the Funds may value foreign securities at fair value, taking into account such events, when they calculate their net asset values. Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees has also developed procedures which utilize fair value procedures when any assets for which reliable market quotations are not readily available or for which the Funds’ pricing service does not provide a valuation or provides a valuation that in the judgment of the Adviser does not represent fair value. The Funds may also fair value a security if the Funds or the Adviser believes that the market price is stale. Other types of securities that the Funds may hold for which fair value pricing might be required include illiquid securities including restricted securities and private placements for which there is no public market. There can be no assurance that a Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its net asset value per share.

How to Buy Shares

You may purchase shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary on any day the NYSE is open. The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500. The minimum may be waived in certain situations. There is no minimum investment requirement for subsequent investments. The offering price of each share will be the next determined net asset value plus the applicable sales charge. The applicable sales charge may be waived in certain situations. A detailed description of the situations in which the sales charge may be waived is set forth in the section titled, “Sales Charge.”

Certain intermediaries, including broker-dealers have been designated as agents authorized to accept purchase, redemption and exchange orders for Fund shares. Orders placed through an intermediary will be deemed to have been received and accepted by the Fund when the intermediary accepts the order. These intermediaries are required by contract and applicable law to ensure that orders are executed at the appropriate price after the intermediary receives the request in good form. These authorized intermediaries are responsible for transmitting requests and delivering funds on a timely basis.

In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, please note that the financial intermediary will verify certain information on your account as part of the Fund’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. As requested by your intermediary, you must supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address.

Exchange Privilege

You may exchange some or all of your shares of a Fund for shares of the same class of one of the other Alpine Funds. You may do this through your financial intermediary. An exchange involves the redemption of shares of one Fund and the purchase of shares of the same class of another Alpine Fund. Once an exchange request has been placed, it is irrevocable and may not be modified or canceled. Exchanges are made on the basis of the relative net asset values of the shares being exchanged next determined after an exchange request is received. An exchange which represents an initial investment in a fund is subject to the minimum investment requirements of that fund. In addition, brokers and other financial intermediaries may charge a fee for processing exchange requests. Exchanges are not subject to redemption fees, except in the case when you are exchanging from a fund with a redemption fee to a fund that does not currently charge a redemption fee. If you exchange from a fund without a redemption fee into a fund with a redemption fee, the fee liability begins on the trade date of the exchange and not the original share purchase date.

The Alpine Funds each have different investment objectives and policies. You should review the objective and policies of the fund whose shares will be acquired in an exchange before placing an exchange request. An exchange is a taxable transaction for Federal income tax purposes. You are limited to five exchanges per calendar year. The exchange privilege may be modified or discontinued at any time by the Alpine Funds upon sixty days’ notice.

How to Redeem Shares

You may redeem shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary on any day the NYSE is open. The price you will receive is the net asset value per share next computed after your redemption request is received in proper form. Redemption proceeds generally will be sent to you within seven days. However, if shares have recently been purchased by check, redemption proceeds will not be sent until your check has been collected (which may take up to twelve business days). Once a redemption request has been placed, it is irrevocable and may not be modified or canceled. Redemption requests received after market close (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will be processed using the net asset value per share determined on the next business day. Brokers and other financial intermediaries may charge a fee for handling redemption requests.

Redemption Fee

The Funds are designed for long-term investors willing to accept the risks associated with a long-term investment. The Funds are not designed for short-term traders whose frequent purchases and redemptions can generate substantial cash flow. These cash flows can unnecessarily disrupt the Funds’ investment programs. Short-term traders often redeem when the market is most turbulent, thereby forcing the sale of underlying securities held by the Funds at the worst possible time as far as long-term investors are concerned. Short-term trading drives up the Funds’ transaction costs, measured by both commissions and bid/ask spreads, which are borne by the remaining long-term investors. Additionally, redemption of short-term holdings may create missed opportunity costs for the Funds, as the Adviser is unable to take or maintain positions with certain securities employing certain strategies that require a longer period of time to achieve anticipated results.

For these reasons, the Funds assess a 1.00% fee on the redemption of each Fund’s shares held for less than 60 days. For example, a purchase with a trade date of January 5, 2012 will not be assessed a redemption fee if redeemed on or after March 6, 2012 or the following business day if this date were to fall on a weekend or holiday. Redemption fees will be paid to the Funds to help offset transaction costs. The Funds reserve the right to waive the redemption fee, subject to their sole discretion in instances they deem not to be disadvantageous to the Funds.

The Funds will use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method to determine the two-month 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 two months, 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 Funds for two months, not including, the date of purchase.

The redemption fee will not apply to any shares purchased through reinvested distributions (dividends and capital gains), or to redemptions made under the Funds’ Systematic Withdrawal Plan, as these transactions are typically de minimis. This fee will also not be assessed on certain exchanges or to the participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans that are held at the Funds in an omnibus account (such as 401(k), 403(b), 457, Keogh, Profit Sharing Plans, and Money Purchase Pension Plans) or to accounts held under trust agreements at a trust institution held at the Funds in an omnibus account. The redemption fee will also not be assessed on exchanges except in instances where you are exchanging shares of a Fund with a redemption fee into a Fund which does not currently have a redemption fee. If you exchange from a Fund without a redemption fee into a Fund with a redemption fee, the fee liability begins on the trade date of the exchange not the original share purchase date.

Additional Redemption Information

A redemption of shares is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. The Fund may pay redemption proceeds by distributing securities held by the Fund, but only in the unlikely event that the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines that payment of the proceeds in cash would adversely affect other shareholders of the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption amount in-kind through the distribution of portfolio securities, it is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash, up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s total net assets during any ninety-day period for any one shareholder.

While the Fund makes every effort to collect redemption fees, the Fund may not always be able to track short term trading effected through financial intermediaries. Financial intermediaries include omnibus accounts or retirement plans.

The Fund reserves the right to:

• suspend redemptions or postpone payment for up to seven days or longer, as permitted by applicable law;

• close your account in the Fund if as a result of one or more redemptions the account value has remained below $1,000 for thirty days or more. You will receive sixty days’ written notice to increase the account value before the account is closed.

Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions

The Funds are intended for long-term investors. The Funds actively discourage excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm fund performance. While not specifically unlawful, the practice utilized by short-term traders to time their investments and redemptions of Fund shares with certain market-driven events can create substantial cash flows. These cash flows can be disruptive to the portfolio managers’ attempts to achieve a Fund’s objectives. Further, frequent short-term trading of Fund shares drives up the Funds’ transaction costs to the detriment of the remaining shareholders.

Funds that invest in overseas securities, where market timers may seek to take advantage of time zone differences and Funds that invest in investments which are not frequently traded, may be targets of market timers.

For these reasons, the Funds use a variety of techniques to monitor for and detect abusive trading practices. The Funds do not accommodate “market timers” and discourage excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm fund performance. The Board of Trustees has developed and adopted a market timing policy which takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities in each Fund. These steps include, monitoring trading activity and using fair value pricing, as determined by the Board of Trustees, when the Adviser determines current market prices are not readily available. These techniques may change from time to time as determined by the Funds in their sole discretion.

Trading Practices.

Currently, the Funds reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to identify trading practices as abusive. The Funds may deem the sale of all or a substantial portion of a shareholder’s purchase of fund shares to be abusive. In addition, the Funds reserve the right to accept purchases and exchanges if they believe that such transactions would not be inconsistent with the best interests of Fund shareholders or this policy.

The Funds monitor selected trades in an effort to detect excessive short- term trading activities. If, as a result of this monitoring, the Funds believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, they may, in their discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s accounts other than exchanges into a money market fund. In making such judgments, the Funds seek to act in a manner that they believe is consistent with the best interests of shareholders.

maintained by financial intermediaries is severely limited because the Funds do not have simultaneous access to the underlying shareholder account information. In this regard, in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, as amended, the Funds have entered into Information Sharing Agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which these financial intermediaries are required to provide to the Funds, at each Fund’s request, certain customer and identity trading information relating to its customers investing in a Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts. The Funds will use this information to attempt to identify abusive trading practices. Financial intermediaries are contractually required to follow any instructions from the Funds to restrict or prohibit future purchases from customers that are found to have engaged in abusive trading in violation of a Fund’s policies. However, the Funds cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to them from financial intermediaries and cannot ensure that they will always be able to detect abusive trading practices that occur through non-disclosed and omnibus accounts. As a consequence, a Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices in omnibus accounts may be limited.

Distribution of Fund Shares

Distributor.

Quasar Distributors, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 serves as distributor and principal underwriter to the Funds. Quasar Distributors, LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Shares of the Funds are offered on a continuous basis.

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan.

The Trust, on behalf of each class of the Funds, has adopted a Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act, to provide certain distribution and shareholder-servicing activities for the Funds and its shareholders. A Fund’s Class A may pay up to 0.25% per year of its average daily net assets for such distribution and shareholder-servicing activities. Rule 12b-1 fees finance distribution activities that promote the sale of the Fund’s shares. Distribution activities include, but are not necessarily limited to, advertising, printing and mailing prospectuses to persons other than current shareholders, printing and mailing sales literature, and compensating underwriters, dealers and sales personnel. Shareholder services may include among other things, assisting investors in processing their purchase, exchange, or redemption request, or processing dividend and distribution payments. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Sales Charge.

You pay the offering price (the net asset value per share plus any initial sales charge) when you buy Class A Shares unless you qualify for waiver as described below. You pay a lower sales charge as the size of your investment increases. You do not pay a sales charge when you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions paid by a Fund. A portion or all of the sales charge may be retained by the Distributor or paid to your broker, dealer or other financial intermediary as a concession. The current sales charge rates and concessions paid are shown in the table below.

Amount Invested	% of Offering Price	% of Net Amount Invested	Dealer Concession

Less than $25,000	5.50%	5.82%	5.00%
$25,000 but less than $50,000	5.00%	5.26%	4.50%
$50,000 but less than $100,000	4.50%	4.71%	4.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000	3.75%	3.90%	3.25%
$250,000 but less than $500,000	2.75%	2.83%	2.25%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000	2.25%	2.30%	1.75%
$1,000,000 and over	None*	None*	1.00%*

*A Limited Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% will be applied if shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchasing Class A Shares as part of an investment greater than $1,000,000 if no front-end sales charge was paid at the time of purchase and a concession was paid to the financial intermediary or dealer.

Sales Charge Reduction or Waiver

There are several ways you can combine multiple purchases of Class A shares to reduce or eliminate the sales charge. In order to take advantage of reductions in sales charges that may be available to you when you purchase fund shares in an amount of $25,000 or more, you must inform your financial intermediary if you are eligible for a right of accumulation or a letter of intent. Failure to notify your financial intermediary may result in not receiving the sales charge reduction or elimination to which you are otherwise entitled. Certain records, such as account statements, may be necessary in order to verify your eligibility to reduce or eliminate the sales charge. If you hold fund shares in accounts at two or more financial intermediaries, please contact your financial intermediaries to determine which shares may be combined. For more information, see the SAI or contact your financial intermediary.

Additionally, the sales charge may be waived for the following persons or reasons:

Employees of the Adviser or its affiliates and their immediate family

Current and former Trustees of funds advised by the Adviser

The Adviser or its affiliates

An agent or broker of a dealer that has entered into a selling agreement with the Fund’s distributor for the agent or broker’s own account or an account of a relative of any such person, or an account for the benefit of any such person

Investors in employee retirement, stock, bonus, pension or profit sharing plans

Investment advisory clients of the Adviser or its affiliates

Registered Investment Advisers

Broker/Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers with clients participating in comprehensive fee programs

Certain financial intermediaries that have entered into contractual agreements with the Funds’ distributor

Shares acquired when dividends or capital gains are reinvested in the Funds

Shares offered to any other investment company to effect the combination of such company with the Funds by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise

These waivers may be discontinued at any time without notice.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (“CDSC”)

There is no initial sales charge on Class A purchases of $1 million or more, but a CDSC may apply. You will pay a CDSC of 1.00% when you redeem within 12 months of purchasing Class A Shares as part of an investment greater than $1,000,000 if no front-end sales charge was paid at the time of purchase and a concession was paid to the financial intermediary or dealer.

That CDSC will be calculated on the lesser of the net asset value of the redeemed share or the aggregate net asset value of the redeemed share at the time of redemption.

You do not pay a CDSC when you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions paid by a Fund.

Right of Accumulation — The right of accumulation allows you to combine the current value of your holdings in Class A shares of the Fund, based on the current offer price, with other qualifying shares that are owned by you, your spouse, your children under the age of 21, or a trustee or fiduciary of a single trust estate or single fiduciary account and with the dollar amount of your next purchase of Class A shares, including any applicable sales charge, for purposes of determining whether or which level of sales charge applies. Qualifying shares may include shares held in accounts held at a financial intermediary. Class A shares of the Fund in accounts held through 401(k) plans and similar multi-participant retirement plans, or those accounts which cannot be linked using tax identification numbers, social security numbers or broker identification numbers are not qualifying shares. The right of accumulation may be amended or terminated at any time.

Letter of Intent — If you plan to make an aggregate investment of $25,000 or more over a 13-month period, you may take advantage of breakpoints in sales charges for aggregate purchases of Class A by entering into a non-binding letter of intent. The initial investment must meet the minimum initial investment requirement. Generally, purchases of Class A shares of the Fund that are purchased during the 13-month period by you, your spouse, your children under the age of 21, or a trustee or fiduciary of a single trust estate or single fiduciary account are eligible for inclusion under the letter of intent. Qualifying shares may include shares held in accounts held at a financial intermediary. Class A shares of the Fund in accounts held through 401(k) plans and similar multi-participant retirement plans, or those accounts which cannot be linked using tax identification numbers, social security numbers or broker identification numbers are not qualifying shares. During the term of the letter of intent, the Fund will hold shares in an escrow account for payment of the higher sales load if the breakpoint amount is not purchased within 13 months. If you do not purchase the breakpoint amount of Class A shares within the 13-month period, the Fund will redeem the applicable sales charge on the Class A shares from the shares held in escrow. When a shareholder elects to participate in a letter of intent, the Class A Shares purchased within a ninety day period prior to that election will be included in satisfying the aggregate investment requirement. The letter of intent may be amended or terminated at any time.

You may cancel a letter of intent by notifying your financial intermediary in writing. Complete liquidation of purchases made under a letter of intent prior to meeting the breakpoint investment amount, moreover, will result in the cancellation of the letter.

Additional Information.

The Adviser may at its own expense make payments to some, but not all brokers, dealers or financial intermediaries for shareholder services, as an incentive to sell shares of a Fund and/or to promote retention of their customers’ assets in a Fund. These payments sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing,” do not change the price paid by investors to purchase the Funds’ shares or the amount the Funds receive as proceeds from such sales.

Revenue sharing payments may be made to brokers, dealers and other financial intermediaries that provide services to the Funds or their shareholders including shareholder servicing, transaction processing, sub-accounting services, marketing support and/or access to representatives of the broker, dealer or other financial intermediaries. Revenue sharing payments also may be made to brokers, dealers and other financial intermediaries for inclusion of the Funds on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list.

You may wish to consider whether such arrangements exist when evaluating any recommendation to purchase shares of the Funds.

The following is a summary discussion of certain U.S. Federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder of a Fund who acquires, holds and/or disposes of shares of the Fund, and reflects provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing Treasury Regulations, rulings published by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and other applicable authority, as of the date of this prospectus. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important tax considerations generally applicable to investments in a Fund and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. For more detailed information regarding tax considerations, see the Funds’ SAI. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular investors. In addition, income earned through an investment in a Fund may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes.

Your distribution will be reinvested automatically in additional shares of the Fund in which you have invested, unless you have elected on your original application, or by written instructions filed with the Fund, to have them paid in cash. If you elect to receive dividends in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your checks or if your checks remain uncashed for six months, your dividends may be reinvested in your account at the then-current net asset value. All future distributions will be automatically reinvested in the shares of the Fund. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution checks.

Dividend Policy. It is the policy of each Fund to distribute to shareholders its investment company taxable income, if any, annually and any net realized capital gains annually or more frequently as required for qualification as a regulated investment company by the Code. Dividends and distributions generally are taxable in the year paid, except any dividends paid in January that were declared in the previous calendar quarter, with a record date in such quarter, will be treated as paid in December of the previous year. You may elect to have dividends and/or capital gains paid in cash.

Taxation of the Funds. Each Fund intends to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. While so qualified, a Fund will not be required to pay any Federal income tax on that portion of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains it distributes to shareholders. The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on regulated investment companies, such as the Funds, to the extent they do not meet certain distribution requirements by the end of each calendar year. Each Fund anticipates meeting these distribution requirements.

Taxation of Shareholders. The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S. citizens and residents. Most shareholders normally will have to pay Federal income tax and any state or local taxes on the dividends and distributions they receive from the Fund whether dividends and distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares.

The Funds’ net investment income and short-term capital gains are distributed as dividends and will be taxable as ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Other capital gain distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Funds. Absent further legislation, the reduced rates on qualified dividend income will cease to apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. Distributions generally are taxable in the tax year in which they are declared, whether you reinvest them or take them in cash.

Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for Federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between your tax basis in your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell your shares.

Following the end of each calendar year, every shareholder will be sent applicable tax information and information regarding the dividends paid and capital gain distributions made during the calendar year. A Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which would reduce its investment return. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Shareholders who are subject to United States Federal income tax may be entitled, subject to certain rules and limitations, to claim a Federal income tax credit or deduction for foreign income taxes paid by a Fund. A Fund’s transactions in options, futures and forward contracts are subject to special tax rules. These rules can affect the amount, timing and characteristics of distributions to shareholders.

Beginning in 2013, taxable distributions and redemptions will be subject to a 3.8% Federal Medicare contribution tax on “net investment income” for individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly).

Further, beginning in 2013, a 30% withholding tax will be imposed on dividends and redemption proceeds paid, to (i) certain foreign financial institutions and investment funds unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. Under some circumstances, a foreign shareholder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

The foregoing briefly summarizes some of the important Federal income tax consequences to shareholders of investing in a Fund’s shares, reflects the Federal tax law as of the date of this prospectus, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate, tax-exempt and foreign investors. Investors should consult their tax advisers regarding other Federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances, as well as any proposed tax law changes

Financial Highlights

The following tables present financial highlights for a share of Institutional Class Shares (formerly known as Investor Class Shares) throughout each period indicated. Class A Shares of the Funds have not yet been issued as of the date of this prospectus, and therefore no financial highlights for Class A shares are available.

The Funds’ financial statements including the financial highlights for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 have been audited by [ ], independent registered public accounting firm. The Funds’ financial statements for the six-month period ended April 30, 2011 are unaudited and include all adjustments that the Adviser considers necessary for a fair presentation of such information. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

Both the Annual Report and the Semi-Annual Report are available, free of charge, on the Funds' website.

[To be filed by Amendment]

Notice of Privacy Policy

The Funds collect non-public information about you from the following sources:

•	information we receive about you on applications or other forms;

•	information you give us orally; and

•	information about your transactions with others or us.

The Funds do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers without the customer’s authorization, except as required by law or in response to inquiries from governmental authorities. The Funds restrict access to your personal and account information to those employees who need to know that information to provide products and services to you. The Funds also may disclose that information to unaffiliated third parties (such as to brokers or custodians) only as permitted by law and only as needed for us to provide agreed services to you. The Funds maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to guard your non-public personal information.

In the event that you hold shares of the Funds 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.

NOT PART OF THE PROSPECTUS

Additional Information

No dealer, sales representative or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this Prospectus or in approved sales literature in connection with the offer contained herein, and if given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Funds. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer by the Funds to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

ALPINE WOODS CAPITAL INVESTORS, LLC

2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215

Purchase, NY 10577-2540

CUSTODIAN, ADMINISTRATOR & FUND ACCOUNTANT

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

TRANSFER AGENT

BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.

PO Box 8061

Boston, MA 02266

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

[ ]

DISTRIBUTOR

QUASAR DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

615 East Michigan Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202

FUND COUNSEL

WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

To Obtain More Information about the Funds

For more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports — Additional information is available in the Annual and Semi-Annual reports to Fund shareholders. The Annual Report to Fund shareholders contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds’ performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information — The SAI provides more details about the Funds and their policies. A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into (and is legally a part of) this Prospectus.

To obtain free copies of the Annual or Semi-Annual Reports to Fund Shareholders or the SAI or to discuss questions about the Funds:

By Telephone — 1-888-785-5578

By Mail —Alpine Funds, c/o Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., PO Box 8061, Boston, MA 02266.

By Website — www.alpinefunds.com

From the SEC — Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE, Washington D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the IDEA database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov and copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Commission’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

If someone makes a statement about the fund that is not in this prospectus, you should not rely upon that information. Neither the Fund nor the distributor is offering to sell shares of the fund to any person to whom the Fund may not lawfully sell its shares.

Investment Company Act File Number 811-10405.

ALPINE SERIES TRUST

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Subject to Completion[ ]

ALPINE DYNAMIC BALANCE FUND
Institutional Class - (ADBYX)
Class A Shares – [TICKER SYMBOL]

ALPINE DYNAMIC DIVIDEND FUND

Institutional Class - (ADVDX)

Class A Shares – [TICKER SYMBOL]

ALPINE DYNAMIC FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
Institutional Class - (ADFSX)

Class A Shares – [TICKER SYMBOL]

ALPINE DYNAMIC INNOVATORS FUND
Institutional Class - (ADINX)

Class A Shares – [TICKER SYMBOL]

ALPINE DYNAMIC TRANSFORMATIONS FUND
Institutional Class - (ADTRX)

Class A Shares – [TICKER SYMBOL]

ALPINE ACCELERATING DIVIDEND FUND

Institutional Class - (AADDX)

Class A Shares – [TICKER SYMBOL]

EACH A SERIES OF ALPINE SERIES TRUST

PO Box 8061

Boston, MA 02266

1-888-785-5578

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), dated [December 30, 2011], relates to Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund (the “Balance Fund”), Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund (the “Dividend Fund”), Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund (the “Financial Services Fund”), Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund (the “Innovators Fund”), Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund (the “Transformations Fund”) and Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund (the “Accelerating Dividend Fund” and collectively with the Balance Fund, the Dividend Fund, the Financial Services Fund, the Innovators Fund, the Transformations Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund, the “Funds”). Each Fund is a separate series of Alpine Series Trust (the “Trust”). Shares of the Institutional Class of the Funds (formerly known as the Investor Class) are offered through a prospectus dated March 1, 2011 while Class A Shares of the Funds are offered through a prospectus dated [December 30, 2011] (collectively, the “Prospectus”). A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling the number listed above. This SAI is not a prospectus. It contains information in addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus and is intended to provide you with information regarding the activities and operations of each Fund. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.

Effective January 3, 2012, the names of several of the Funds will be changing as follows: the Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund will be known as the Alpine Foundation Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund will be known as the Alpine Financial Services Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund will be known as the Alpine Innovators Fund, and the Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund will be known as the Alpine Transformations Fund.

The Funds’ most recent Annual Report to shareholders is a separate document supplied with this SAI. The financial statements, accompanying notes and report of independent registered public accounting firm appearing in the Annual Report are incorporated into this SAI by reference to the Funds’ October 31, 2010 Annual Report as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Table of Contents	Page
HISTORY OF THE FUNDS AND GENERAL INFORMATION	[ ]
DESCRIPTION OF EACH FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS	[ ]
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS	[ ]
STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS	[ ]
SPECIAL INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES	[ ]
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS	[ ]
CERTAIN RISK CONSIDERATIONS	[ ]
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER	[ ]
MANAGEMENT	[ ]
CODE OF ETHICS	[ ]
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES	[ ]
INVESTMENT ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS	[ ]
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS	[ ]
SERVICE PROVIDERS	[ ]
ALLOCATION OF BROKERAGE	[ ]
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS	[ ]
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION	[ ]
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION	[ ]
NET ASSET VALUE	[ ]
PURCHASE OF SHARES	[ ]
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM	[ ]
REDEMPTIONS	[ ]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	[ ]
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	[ ]
APPENDIX A: DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS	A-1
APPENDIX B: FUTURES AND OPTIONS	B-1

HISTORY OF THE FUNDS AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Capitalization and Organization

Each Fund is a diversified, open end management investment company and is a series of Alpine Series Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 5, 2001. The Balance Fund commenced its operations on June 7, 2001. The Dividend Fund commenced its operations on September 22, 2003. The Financial Services Fund commenced its operations on November 1, 2005. The Innovators Fund commenced its operations on July 11, 2006. The Transformations Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007. The Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Each Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with a $0.001 par value. All shares of each Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of a Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote, to participate equally with other shares of the same class in dividends and distributions declared by such Fund and, upon liquidation, to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of each Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no preemptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionally the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.

Under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, as amended (the “Declaration of Trust”), each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his or her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee upon a vote of two-thirds of all of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Trust. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held, unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.

Shares have noncumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so and in such event the holders of the remaining shares so voting will not be able to elect any Trustees.

The Trustees are authorized to classify and reclassify any issued class of shares of a Fund into shares of one or more classes of the Fund and to reclassify and issue any unissued shares to any number of additional series without shareholder approval. Accordingly, in the future, for reasons such as the desire to establish one or more additional portfolios of the Trust with different investment objectives, policies or restrictions, additional series or classes of shares may be created. Any issuance of shares of another series or class would be governed by the 1940 Act and the laws of the State of Delaware. If shares of another series of the Trust were issued in connection with the creation of additional investment portfolios, each share of the newly created portfolio would normally be entitled to one vote for all purposes. Generally, shares of all portfolios, including the Funds, would vote as a single series on matters, such as the election of Trustees, that affected all portfolios in substantially the same manner. As to matters affecting each portfolio differently, such as approval of its investment advisory agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) and changes in investment policy, shares of each portfolio would vote separately. In addition, the Trustees may, in the future, create additional classes of shares of a Fund. Except for the different distribution-related and other specific costs borne by classes of shares of a Fund that may be created in the future, each such class will have the same voting and other rights described as the other class or classes of such Fund.

The Trust has adopted a Multiple Class Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, which details the attributes of each class. Under the Declaration of Trust and the Multiple Class Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, each Fund is permitted to offer multiple classes of shares. The Class A Shares of each of the Funds are expected to be offered beginning December 30, 2011. Prior to December 30, 2011, the only outstanding class of shares was the Institutional Class (formerly known as the Investor Class). The Class A Shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee and a sales charge (with certain transactions excepted). The Institutional Class shares are not subject to any sales load or Rule 12b-1 fee.

Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust. A meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing or removing one or more Trustees will be called (i) by the Trustees upon their own vote, or (ii) upon the demand of a shareholder or shareholders owning shares representing 10% or more of the outstanding shares. The rights of the holders of shares of a Fund may not be modified except by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund.

DESCRIPTION OF EACH FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS

The investment objectives of each Fund and a description of its principal investment strategies are set forth under each Fund’s “SUMMARY SECTION,” “ABOUT THE FUNDS” and “THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENTS AND RELATED RISKS” in the Prospectus. Each Fund’s investment objectives are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund.

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC (formerly, Alpine Management & Research, LLC) (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser of each Fund.

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

Equity Securities

Equity securities in which the Funds invest may include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. 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.

Convertible Securities

Each Fund may invest in 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 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 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 issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. Convertible securities may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.

The characteristics of convertible securities make them potentially attractive investments for an investment company seeking a high total return from capital appreciation and investment income. These characteristics include the potential for capital appreciation as the value of the underlying common stock increases, the relatively high yield received from dividend or interest payments as compared to common stock dividends and decreased risks of decline in value relative to the underlying common stock due to their fixed income nature. As a result of the conversion feature, however, the interest rate or dividend preference on a convertible security is generally less than would be the case if the securities were issued in nonconvertible form.

Holders of convertible securities generally have a claim on the assets of the issuer prior to the common stockholders but may be subordinated to other debt securities of the same issuer. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in a charter provision, indenture or other governing instrument pursuant to which the convertible security was issued. If a convertible security held by a 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.

Each Fund will exchange or convert convertible securities into shares of underlying common stock when, in the opinion of the Adviser, the investment characteristics of the underlying common shares will assist a Fund in achieving its investment objective. Each Fund may also elect to hold or trade convertible

securities. In selecting convertible securities, the Adviser 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 Adviser 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.

The value of a convertible security is a function of (1) its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (2) its worth, at market value, if converted or exchanged into the underlying common stock. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument, which may be less than the

ultimate conversion or exchange value.

Convertible securities are subject both to the stock market risk associated with equity securities and to the credit and interest rate risks associated with fixed income securities. As the market price of the equity security underlying a convertible security falls, the convertible security tends to trade on the basis of its yield and other fixed income characteristics. As the market price of such equity security rises, the convertible security tends to trade on the basis of its equity conversion features.

Preferred Stock

The Funds may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock pays dividends at a specified rate and has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of an issuer’s assets but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in an issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Shareholders of preferred stock may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. Under ordinary circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights. In addition, a Fund may receive stocks or warrants as result of an exchange or tender of fixed income securities.

Warrants

Each Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than

the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.

Foreign Securities

Each Fund may purchase securities of non-U.S. issuers and securities of U.S. issuers that trade in foreign markets (“foreign securities”). To the extent that foreign securities purchased by a Fund are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect: a Fund’s net asset values per share; the value of any interest earned; gains and losses realized on the sale of securities; and net investment income and capital gains, if any, to be distributed to shareholders by a Fund. If the value of a foreign currency rises against the U.S. dollar, the value of a Fund’s assets denominated in that currency will increase. Correspondingly, if the value of a foreign currency declines against the U.S. dollar, the value of a Fund’s assets denominated in that currency will decrease. The performance of a Fund will be measured in U.S. dollars, the base currency for a Fund. When a Fund converts its holdings to another currency, it may incur conversion costs. Foreign exchange dealers realize a profit on the difference between the prices at which such dealers buy and sell currencies.

Each Fund may engage in transactions in foreign securities, which are listed on foreign securities exchanges, traded in the over-the-counter market or issued in private placements. Transactions in listed securities may be effected in the over-the-counter markets if, in the opinion of the Adviser, this affords a Fund the ability to obtain best price and execution. Securities markets of foreign countries in which each Fund may invest are generally not subject to the same degree of regulation as the U.S. markets and may be more volatile and less liquid than the major U.S. markets. The differences between investing in foreign and U.S. companies include: (1) less publicly available information about foreign companies; (2) the lack of uniform financial accounting standards and practices among countries which could impair the validity of direct comparisons of valuations measures (such as price/earnings ratios) for securities in different countries; (3) less readily available market quotations for the securities of foreign issuers; (4) differences in government regulation and supervision of foreign stock exchanges, brokers, listed companies, and banks; (5) differences in legal systems which may affect the ability to enforce contractual obligations or obtain court judgments; (6) generally lower foreign stock market volume; (7) the likelihood that foreign securities may be less liquid or more volatile, which may affect the ability of the Funds to purchase or sell large blocks of securities and thus obtain the best price; (8) transactions costs, including brokerage charges and custodian charges associated with holding foreign securities, may be higher; (9) the settlement period for foreign securities, which are sometimes longer than those for securities of U.S. issuers, may affect portfolio liquidity; (10) foreign securities held by a Fund may be traded on days that the Fund does not value its portfolio securities, such as Saturdays and customary business holidays, and accordingly, net asset value per share may be significantly affected on days when shareholders do not have the ability to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund; and (11) political and social instability, expropriation, and political or financial changes which adversely affect investment in some countries. These various risks may be greater in emerging market countries.

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted, but rather in the currency of the market in which they are traded. ADRs are receipts typically issued by an American bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs are receipts issued in Europe by banks or depositories that evidence a similar ownership arrangement. Generally ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets. Depositary Receipts are generally subject to the same risks as the foreign securities that they evidence or into which they may be converted.

Sovereign Debt Obligations

The Funds may purchase sovereign debt instruments issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies, including debt of developing countries. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Sovereign debt of developing countries may involve a high degree of risk, and may present the risk of default. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal

and interest when due, and may require renegotiation or rescheduling of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and interest may depend on political as well as economic factors.

Securities of Other Investment Companies

Each Fund may invest in the securities of other registered, open-end investment companies that have investment objectives and policies similar to its own. Each Fund may also purchase shares of money market funds that invest in U.S. Government Securities and repurchase agreements, in lieu of purchasing money market instruments directly. Any investment by a Fund in the securities of other investment companies, including money market funds, will be subject to the limitations on such investments contained in the 1940 Act. Any investment by a Fund in the Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund will also be subject to the limitations contained in the exemptive order the Alpine Funds received from the SEC. Shareholders of a Fund that holds shares of another investment company will indirectly bear the fees and expenses of that company, which will be in addition to the fees and expenses they bear as shareholders of the Funds.

Each Fund may from time to time rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act with respect to their investments in other investment companies. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act precludes each 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. 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%.

Each Fund may invest its daily cash balance in the Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund. Each Fund is permitted to invest 25% of its total assets in the Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund pursuant to the terms of an exemption granted by the SEC. Each Fund bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund in which it invests. However, the Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reimburse the management fee expense each Fund incurs by investing in the Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund.

Each Fund may purchase the equity securities of closed-end investment companies to facilitate investment in certain countries. Equity securities of closed-end investment companies generally trade at a discount to their net asset value, but may also trade at a premium to net asset value. Each Fund may pay a premium to invest in a closed-end investment company in circumstances where the Adviser determines that the potential for capital growth justifies the payment of a premium. Closed-end investment companies, as well as money market funds, pay investment advisory and other fees and incur various expenses in connection with their operations. Shareholders of a Fund will indirectly bear these fees and expenses, which will be in addition to the fees and expenses of such Fund.

Fixed Income Securities

Each Fund may invest in bonds and other types of debt obligations of U.S. and foreign issuers. These securities, whether of U.S. or foreign issuers, may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest, and may include zero coupon obligations, which do not pay interest until maturity. Fixed income securities may include:

• bonds, notes and debentures issued by corporations;

• debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government Securities”);

• municipal securities;

• mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; or

• debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign corporations and foreign governments, their agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, or by government owned, controlled or sponsored entities, including central banks.

Subject to certain limitations, each Fund may invest in both investment grade and non-investment grade debt securities. Investment grade debt securities have received a rating from Standard & Poor’s, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“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 Adviser 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 Adviser to be of a quality below investment grade. Each Fund may invest up to 5% of the value of its total assets in debt securities that are rated below A by Moody’s or by S&P. Each Fund may not invest in debt securities rated below Ccc by S&P or Caa by Moody’s (or unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser). There are no limitations on the maturity of debt securities that may be purchased by the Funds.

Debt securities represent money borrowed that obligate the issuer (e.g., a corporation, municipality, government, government agency) to repay the borrowed amount at maturity (when the obligation is due and payable) and usually to pay the holder interest at specific times. These securities share three principal risks: First, the level of interest income generated by the Fund’s fixed income investments may decline due to a decrease in market interest rates. When fixed income securities mature or are sold, they may be replaced by lower-yielding investments. Second, their values fluctuate with changes in interest rates. A decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of the Fund’s fixed income investments. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of the Fund’s fixed income investments will generally decline. However, a change in interest rates will not have the same impact on all fixed rate securities. For example, the magnitude of these fluctuations will generally be greater for a security whose duration or maturity is longer. Changes in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income from those securities, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). The Fund has no restrictions with respect to the maturities or duration of the debt securities it holds. The Fund’s investments in fixed income securities with longer terms to maturity or greater duration are subject to greater volatility than the Fund’s shorter-term securities. In addition, certain fixed income securities are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that an issuer of securities will be unable to pay principal and interest when due, or that the value of the security will suffer because investors believe the issuer is unable to pay.

U.S. Government Securities.

The Funds may invest in U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities include (1) U.S. Treasury bills (maturity of one year or less), U.S. Treasury notes (maturity of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (maturities generally greater than ten years) and (2) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities which are supported by any of the following: (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (such as GNMA certificates); (b) the right of the issuer to borrow an amount limited to specific line of credit from the U.S. government (such as obligations of the Federal Home Loan Banks); (c) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of agencies or instrumentalities (such as securities issued by Fannie Mae); or (d) only the credit of the instrumentality (such as securities issued by Freddie Mac). In the case of obligations not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, a Fund must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments. Neither the U.S. government nor any of its agencies or instrumentalities guarantees the market value of the securities they issue. Therefore, the market value of such securities will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates.

The Funds may also invest in zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities and in zero coupon securities issued by financial institutions, which represent a proportionate interest in underlying U.S. Treasury

securities. A zero coupon bond is a security that makes no fixed interest payments but instead is sold at a discount from its face value. The bond is redeemed at its face value on the specified maturity date. Zero coupon bonds may be issued as such, or they may be created by a broker who strips the coupons from a bond and separately sells the rights to receive principal and interest. The prices of zero coupon bonds tend to fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than do the prices of interest-paying debt securities with similar maturities. A Fund investing in zero coupon bonds generally accrues income on such securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. Since a Fund must distribute substantially all of its income to shareholders to qualify as a regulated investment company under federal income tax law, to the extent that the Fund invests in zero coupon bonds, it may have to dispose of other securities, including at times when it may be disadvantageous to do so, to generate the cash necessary for the distribution of income attributable to its zero coupon bonds. The market values of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically.

Municipal Securities.

Municipal securities risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers of municipal securities, and the possibility of future legislative changes which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. These risks include:

General Obligation Bonds Risks — Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base.

Revenue Bonds Risks — These payments depend on the money earned by the particular facility or class of facilities, or the amount of revenues derived from another source.

Private Activity Bonds Risks — Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge its faith, credit and taxing power for repayment.

Moral Obligation Bonds Risks — Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality.

Municipal Notes Risks — Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and a Fund may lose money.

Municipal Lease Obligations Risks — In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property.

Mortgage-Backed Securities

Each Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or issued by private issuers. The mortgage-backed securities in which the Funds may invest include collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”). CMOs are debt instruments issued by special purpose entities and secured by mortgages or other mortgage- backed securities, which provide by their terms for aggregate payments of principal and interest based on the payments made on the underlying mortgages or securities. CMOs are typically issued in separate classes with varying coupons and stated maturities. REMIC interests are mortgage-backed securities as to which the issuers have qualified to be treated as real estate mortgage investment conduits under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and have the same characteristics as CMOs.

The Funds may from time to time also invest in “stripped” mortgage-backed securities. These are securities that operate like CMOs but entitle the holder to disproportionate interests with respect to the

allocation of interest or principal on the underlying mortgages or securities. A stripped mortgage-backed security is created by the issuer separating the interest and principal on a mortgage pool to form two or more independently traded securities. The result is the creation of classes of discount securities which can be structured to produce faster or slower prepayment expectations based upon the particular underlying mortgage interest rate payments assigned to each class. These obligations exhibit risk characteristics similar to mortgage-backed securities generally and zero coupon securities. Due to existing market characteristics, “interest only” and “principal only” mortgage-backed securities are considered to be illiquid. The prices of these securities are more volatile than the prices of debt securities, which make periodic payments of interest.

Because the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment at any time, most mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk of prepayment in an amount differing from that anticipated at the time of issuance. Prepayments generally are passed through to the holders of the securities. Any such prepayments received by the Funds must be reinvested in other securities. As a result, prepayments in excess of that anticipated could adversely affect yield to the extent such amounts are reinvested in instruments with a lower interest rate than that of the original security. Prepayments on a pool of mortgages are influenced by a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors. Generally, however, prepayments will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease during a period of rising interest rates. Accordingly, amounts required to be reinvested are likely to be greater (and the potential for capital appreciation less) during a period of declining interest rates than during a period of rising interest rates. Mortgage-backed securities may be purchased at a premium over the principal or face value in order to obtain higher income. The recovery of any premium that may have been paid for a given security is solely a function of the ability to liquidate such security at or above the purchase price.

Mortgage-backed securities may also be affected by the downturn in the subprime mortgage lending market in the United States.

Asset-Backed Securities

The Funds may invest in asset-backed securities issued by private issuers. Asset-backed securities represent interests in pools of consumer loans (generally unrelated to mortgage loans) and most often are structured as pass-through securities. Interest and principal payments ultimately depend on payment of the underlying loans by individuals, although the securities may be supported by letters of credit or other credit enhancements. The value of asset- backed securities may also depend on the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans, or the financial institution providing the credit enhancement.

Asset-backed securities may be “stripped” into classes in a manner similar to that described under the section titled, “Mortgage-Backed Securities,” above, and are subject to the prepayment risks described therein.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Dividend Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate, or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Debt securities issued by REITs, for the most part, are general and unsecured obligations and are subject to risks associated with REITs.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. An equity REIT may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT. A mortgage REIT may be affected by changes in interest rates and the ability of the issuers of its portfolio mortgages to repay their obligations. REITs are dependent upon the skills of their managers and are not diversified. REITs are generally dependent upon maintaining cash flows to repay borrowings and to make distributions to shareholders and are subject to the risk of default by lessees or borrowers. REITs whose underlying assets are concentrated in properties used by a particular industry, such as health care, are also subject to industry related risks.

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. If the REIT invests in adjustable rate mortgage loans the interest rates on which are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. Historically, REITs have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in S&P 500 Index.

Recent Market Events

The fixed-income markets recently have experienced a period of extreme volatility which has negatively impacted market liquidity conditions. Initially, the concerns on the part of market participants were focused on the subprime segment of the mortgage-backed securities market. However, these concerns expanded to include a broad range of mortgage-and asset-backed and other fixed income securities, including those rated investment grade, the U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets generally, and a wide range of financial institutions and markets, asset classes and sectors. As a result, fixed income instruments have experienced liquidity issues, increased price volatility, credit downgrades, and increased likelihood of default. Securities that are less liquid are more difficult to value and may be hard to dispose of. Domestic and international equity markets have also experienced heightened volatility and turmoil, with issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets particularly affected. During times of market turmoil, investors tend to look to the safety of securities issued or backed by the U.S. Treasury, causing the prices of these securities to rise, and the yield to decline. These events and the continuing market upheavals may have an adverse effect on the Funds.

STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

Foreign Currency Transactions; Currency Risk

Exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies are a function of such factors as supply and demand in the currency exchange markets, international balances of payments, governmental intervention, speculation and other economic and political conditions. Although the Funds value their assets daily in U.S. dollars, they generally do not convert their holdings to U.S. dollars or any other currency. Foreign exchange dealers may realize a profit on the difference between the price at which the Funds buy and sell currencies.

The Funds will engage in foreign currency exchange transactions in connection with their investments in foreign securities. The Funds will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The Funds may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against possible losses on foreign investments resulting from adverse changes in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has a deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies. However, forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit potential gains which could result from a positive change in such currency relationships. The Funds do not speculate in foreign currency.

Except for cross-hedges, the Funds will not enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts or maintain a net exposure in such contracts when they would be obligated to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of their portfolio securities or other assets denominated in that currency or, in the case of a “cross-hedge,” denominated in a currency or currencies that the Adviser believes will tend to be closely correlated with that currency with regard to price movements. At the consummation of a forward contract, the Funds may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate their contractual obligation to deliver the foreign currency by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating them to purchase, at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If the Funds choose to make delivery of the foreign currency, they may be required to obtain such currency through the sale of portfolio securities denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Funds into such currency. If the Funds engage in an offsetting transaction, the Funds will incur a gain or loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices.

It should be realized that this method of protecting the value of the Funds’ portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. Additionally, although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currency increase. Generally, the Funds will not enter into a forward foreign currency exchange contract with a term longer than one year.

Foreign Currency Options

The Funds may purchase and write options on foreign currencies to protect against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign securities or in the U.S. dollar value of dividends or interest expected to be received on these securities. These transactions may also be used to protect against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of foreign securities to be acquired by the Fund. Writing an option on foreign currency is only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the premium received, and the Funds could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The Funds may not purchase a foreign currency option if, as a result, premiums paid on foreign currency options then held by a Fund would represent more than 5% of such Funds’ net assets.

A foreign currency option provides the option buyer with the right to buy or sell a stated amount of foreign currency at the exercise price on a specified date or during the option period. The owner of a call option has the right, but not the obligation, to buy the currency. Conversely, the owner of a put option has the right, but not the obligation, to sell the currency. When the option is exercised, the seller (i.e., writer) of the option is obligated to fulfill the terms of the sold option. However, either the seller or the buyer may, in the secondary market, close its position during the option period at any time prior to expiration.

A call option on a foreign currency generally rises in value if the underlying currency appreciates in value, and a put option on a foreign currency generally rises in value if the underlying currency depreciates in value. Although purchasing a foreign currency option can protect the Funds against an adverse movement in the value of a foreign currency, the option will not limit the movement in the value of such currency. For example, if a Fund was holding securities denominated in a foreign currency that was appreciating and had purchased a foreign currency put to hedge against a decline in the value of the currency, such Fund would not have to exercise its put option. Likewise, if a Fund were to enter into a contract to purchase a security denominated in foreign currency and, in conjunction with that purchase, were to purchase a foreign currency call option to hedge against a rise in value of the currency, and if the value of the currency instead depreciated between the date of purchase and the settlement date, such Fund would not have to exercise its call. Instead, the Fund could acquire in the spot market the amount of foreign currency needed for settlement.

Special Risks Associated with Foreign Currency Options

Buyers and sellers of foreign currency options are subject to the same risks that apply to options generally. In addition, there are certain additional risks associated with foreign currency options. The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new, and the Funds’ ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the Funds will not purchase or write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the Adviser, the market for them has developed sufficiently to ensure that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with the underlying currency, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are affected by most of the same factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.

The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and may have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Available quotation information is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions (i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that the U.S. option markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets until they reopen.

Foreign Currency Futures Transactions

By using foreign currency futures contracts and options on such contracts, the Funds may be able to achieve many of the same objectives as they would through the use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The Funds may be able to achieve these objectives possibly more effectively and at a lower cost by using futures transactions instead of forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

A foreign currency futures contract sale creates an obligation by a Fund, as seller, to deliver the amount of currency called for in the contract at a specified future time for a specified price. A currency futures contract purchase creates an obligation by a Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of an amount of currency at a specified future time at a specified price. Although the terms of currency futures contracts specify actual delivery or receipt, in most instances the contracts are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery of the currency. Closing out of currency futures contracts is

effected by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale transaction. An offsetting transaction for a currency futures contract sale is effected by a Fund entering into a currency futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of currency and same delivery date. If the price of the sale exceeds the price of the offsetting purchase, such Fund is immediately paid the difference and realizes a loss. Similarly, the closing out of a currency futures contract purchase is effected by a Fund entering into a currency futures contract sale. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, such Fund realizes a gain, and if the offsetting sale price is less than the purchase price, such Fund realizes a loss.

Special Risks Associated with Foreign Currency Futures Contracts and Related Options

Buyers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. In addition, there are risks associated with foreign currency futures contracts and their use as a hedging device similar to those associated with options on foreign currencies, as described above.

Options on foreign currency futures contracts may involve certain additional risks. Trading options on foreign currency futures contracts is relatively new. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. To reduce this risk, the Funds will not purchase or write options on foreign currency futures contracts unless and until, in the opinion of the Adviser, the market for such options has developed sufficiently that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with transactions in the underlying foreign currency futures contracts. Compared to the purchase or sale of foreign currency futures contracts, the purchase of call or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to the Funds because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss, such as when there is no movement in the price of the underlying currency or futures contract.

Equity-Linked Securities

The Funds may invest in equity-linked securities, including, but not limited to, participation notes, certificates of participation, and equity swaps. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of stocks, or a single stock. To the extent that the Funds invest in equity-linked securities whose return corresponds to the performance of a foreign security index or one or more foreign stocks, investing in equity-linked securities will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities and subject to each Fund’s restrictions on investments in foreign securities. In addition, the Funds bear the risk that the counterparty of an equity-linked security may default on its obligations under the security. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, the equity-linked security would also be considered illiquid and thus subject to each Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid securities.

Participation notes, also known as participation certificates, are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to replicate the performance of foreign companies or foreign securities markets and can be used by a Fund as an alternative means to access the securities market of a country. The performance results of participation notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction and other expenses. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. There can be no assurance that the trading price of participation notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. Participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter. Participation notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, the counterparty, and the Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying security. Participation notes involve transaction cost. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, participation notes may be illiquid

and therefore subject to the Fund’s percentage limitation for investments in illiquid securities. Participation notes offer a return linked to a particular underlying equity, debt or currency.

Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or equity investment. An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or disadvantageous. Equity swaps may also be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. A Fund’s ability to enter into certain swap transactions may be limited by tax considerations. The counterparty to an equity swap contract will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.

Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on the equity swap contract should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and the Fund may each agree to pay the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different stocks (or indices of stocks). A Fund will generally enter into equity swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of an equity swap contract or periodically during its term.

Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty to an equity swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive. Because some swap agreements have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the cost of the underlying asset without the use of leverage. In addition, the value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. To the extent that the Adviser does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, a Fund may suffer a loss. Because equity swaps are normally illiquid, a Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired. When entering into swap contracts, a Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the swap contract.

Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash or liquid assets to cover the Funds’ exposure, the Funds and the Adviser believe that transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

Illiquid Securities

The term “illiquid securities” means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which a fund has valued the securities and includes, among other things, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, term deposits maturing in more than seven days, restricted securities (other than Rule 144A discussed below), privately issued interest-only and principal-only stripped asset-backed securities, over-the counter options and the assets used to cover written over-the-counter options, and municipal lease obligations (including certificates of participation) other than those the Adviser has determined are liquid pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. A Fund may not be able to readily liquidate its investments in illiquid securities

and may have to sell other investments if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations. The lack of a liquid secondary market for illiquid securities may make it more difficult for a Fund to assign a value to those securities for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset value.

Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and may be sold only in privately negotiated or other exempted transactions or after a registration statement under the Securities Act has become effective. Where registration is required, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time a Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell.

Not all restricted securities are illiquid. A large institutional market has developed for many U.S. and non-U.S. securities that are not registered under the Securities Act. Institutional investors generally will not seek to sell these instruments to the general public, but instead will often depend either on an efficient institutional market in which such unregistered securities can be readily resold or on an issuer’s ability to honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions is not dispositive of the liquidity of such investments.

Institutional markets for restricted securities also have developed as a result of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. These markets include automated systems for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, such as the PORTAL System sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. An insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A-eligible restricted securities held by a Fund, however, could affect adversely the marketability of such portfolio securities, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of them promptly or at favorable prices.

The Board has delegated the function of making day-to-day determinations of liquidity to the Adviser pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board. The Adviser takes into account a number of factors in reaching liquidity decisions, which may include (1) the frequency of trades for the security, (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase and sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; (3) the number of dealers who undertake to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and how trading is effected (e.g., the time needed to sell the security, how bids are solicited and the mechanics of transfer). In some cases, the Adviser may determine presumptively illiquid securities to be liquid in accordance with SEC and Board guidelines. The Adviser monitors the liquidity of restricted securities in each Fund’s portfolio and reports periodically on such decisions to the Board.

The Adviser also monitors each Fund’s overall holdings of illiquid securities. If a fund’s holdings of illiquid securities exceed its limitation on investments in illiquid securities for any reason (such as a particular security becoming illiquid, changes in the relative market values of liquid and illiquid portfolio securities or shareholder redemptions), The Adviser will consider what action would be in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders. Such action may include engaging in an orderly disposition of securities to reduce the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities. However, a Fund is not required to dispose of illiquid securities under these circumstances.

When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities

These transactions are made to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price or yield for the Funds. No fees or other expenses, other than normal transaction costs, are incurred. However, liquid assets of a Fund sufficient to make payment for the securities to be purchased are segregated on the Fund’s records at the trade date. These assets are marked to market and are maintained until the transaction has been settled.

The when-issued securities are subject to market fluctuation, and no interest accrues on the security to the purchaser during this period. The payment obligation and the interest rate that will be

received on the securities are each fixed at the time the purchaser enters into the commitment. Purchasing obligations on a when-issued basis is a form of leveraging and can involve a risk that the yields available in the market when the delivery takes place may actually be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. In that case, there could be an unrealized loss at the time of delivery. An increase in the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to the purchase of securities on a “when-issued basis” may increase the volatility of its NAV.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

The collateral received when the Balance Fund or the Financial Services Fund lends portfolio securities must be valued daily and, should the market value of the loaned securities increase, the borrower must furnish additional collateral to the lending Fund. During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower pays a Fund any dividends or interest paid on such securities. Loans are subject to termination at the option of a Fund or the borrower. Each Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash or equivalent collateral to the borrower or placing broker. A Fund does not have the right to vote securities on loan, but would terminate the loan and regain the right to vote if that were considered important with respect to the investment.

The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of secured credit, consist of possible delay in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. A Fund could also lose money if its short-term investment of the cash collateral declines in value over the period of the loan.

Temporary Investments

For defensive purposes, each Fund may temporarily invest all or a substantial portion of its assets in high quality fixed income securities, including money market instruments, or may temporarily hold cash. In addition, for defensive purposes, the Dividend Fund may hold certain securities for less than the 61 days described above and, as a result, shareholders may be unable to take advantage of the reduced federal income tax rates applicable to any qualifying dividends otherwise attributable to such securities. In addition, during such times, the Dividend Fund may temporarily invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents. Fixed income securities will be deemed to be of high quality if they are rated “A” or better by S&P or the corresponding rating by Moody’s or, if unrated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. Money market instruments are high quality, short-term fixed income obligations (which generally have remaining maturities of one year or less), and may include:

•	U.S. Government securities;

•	commercial paper;

•	certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic branches of U.S. banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;

•	short-term obligations of foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars and traded in the United States; and

•	repurchase agreements.

Money Market Instruments

The Funds may invest in any type of money market instruments, short-term debt securities or cash for temporary defensive purposes, to pay expenses and/or meet redemption requests. Money market instruments in which the Fund may invest include: U.S. government securities; certificates of deposit (“CDs”), time deposits (“TDs”) and bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic banks (including their branches located outside the United States and subsidiaries located in Canada), domestic branches of foreign banks, savings and loan associations and similar institutions; high grade commercial paper; and repurchase agreements with respect to the foregoing types of instruments. The following is a more detailed description of such money market instruments.

CDs are short-term negotiable obligations of commercial banks. TDs are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers usually in connection with international transactions.

Recently enacted legislation will affect virtually every area of banking and financial regulation. The impact of the regulation is not yet known and may not be known for some time. In addition, new regulations to be promulgated pursuant to the legislation could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in money market instruments.

Domestic commercial banks organized under federal law are supervised and examined by the Comptroller of the Currency (the “COTC”) and are required to be members of the Federal Reserve System and to be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). Domestic banks organized under state law are supervised and examined by state banking authorities but are members of the Federal Reserve System only if they elect to join. Most state banks are insured by the FDIC (although such insurance may not be of material benefit to the Fund, depending upon the principal amount of CDs of each bank held by the Fund) and are subject to federal examination and to a substantial body of federal law and regulation. Savings and loan associations whose CDs may be purchased by the Fund are supervised by the Office of Thrift Supervision and are insured by the FDIC. Savings and loan associations are subject to regulation and examination. As a result of governmental regulations, domestic branches of domestic banks are, among other things, generally required to maintain specified levels of reserves, and are subject to other supervision and regulation.

Obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks, such as CDs and TDs, may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and government regulation. Such obligations are subject to different risks than are those of domestic banks or domestic branches of foreign banks. These risks include foreign economic and political developments, foreign governmental restrictions that may adversely affect payment of principal and interest on the obligations, foreign exchange controls and foreign withholding and other taxes on interest income. Foreign branches of domestic banks are not necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory requirements that apply to domestic banks, such as mandatory reserve requirements, loan limitations, and accounting, auditing and financial recordkeeping requirements. In addition, less information may be publicly available about a foreign branch of a domestic bank than about a domestic bank.

Obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank in addition to the issuing branch, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by governmental regulation as well as governmental action in the country in which the foreign bank has its head office. A domestic branch of a foreign bank with assets in excess of $1 billion may or may not be subject to reserve requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve System or by the state in which the branch is located if the branch is licensed in that state. In addition, branches licensed by the COTC and branches licensed by certain states (“State Branches”) may or may not be required to: (a) pledge to the regulator by depositing assets with a designated bank within the state, an amount of its assets equal to 5% of its total liabilities; and (b) maintain assets within the state in an amount equal to a specified percentage of the aggregate amount of liabilities of the foreign bank payable at or through all of its agencies or branches within the state. The deposits of State Branches may not necessarily be insured by the FDIC. In addition, there may be less publicly available information about a domestic branch of a foreign bank than about a domestic bank.

Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. A variable amount master demand note (which is a type of commercial paper) represents a direct borrowing arrangement involving periodically fluctuating rates of interest under a letter agreement between a commercial paper issuer and an institutional lender, such as the Fund, pursuant to which the lender may determine to invest varying amounts. Transfer of such notes is usually restricted by the issuer, and there is no secondary trading market for such notes.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are agreements under which a Fund purchases securities from a bank or a securities dealer that agrees to repurchase the securities from a Fund at a higher price on a designated future date. If the seller under a repurchase agreement becomes insolvent, a Fund’s right to dispose of the securities may be restricted, or the value of the securities may decline before the Fund is able to dispose of them. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the seller, a Fund may encounter delay and incur costs, including a decline in the value of the securities, before being able to sell the securities. If the seller defaults, the value of the securities may decline before a Fund is able to dispose of them. If a Fund enters into a repurchase agreement that is subject to foreign law and the other party defaults, such Fund may not enjoy protections comparable to those provided to most repurchase agreements under U.S. bankruptcy law, and may suffer delays and losses in disposing of the collateral. Each Fund has adopted procedures designed to minimize the risks of loss from repurchase agreements.

Each Fund’s custodian or a sub-custodian will take possession of the securities subject to repurchase agreements, and these securities will be marked to market daily. To the extent that the original seller does not repurchase the securities from the Fund, that Fund could receive less than the repurchase price on any sale of such securities. In the event that such a defaulting seller filed for bankruptcy or became insolvent, disposition of such securities by a Fund might be delayed pending court action. Each Fund believes that under the regular procedures normally in effect for custody of a Fund’s portfolio securities subject to repurchase agreements, a court of competent jurisdiction would rule in favor of the Fund and allow retention or disposition of such securities. Each Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with banks and other recognized financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, which are deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy pursuant to guidelines established by the Trustees.

Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the other party, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities, the risk of a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its right to them, the risk of incurring expenses associated with asserting those rights and the risk of losing all or part of the income from the agreement.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Each Fund may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements. These transactions are similar to borrowing cash and involve risks similar to those discussed under “Borrowing” below. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another person, such as a financial institution, broker, or dealer, in return for a percentage of the instrument’s market value in cash, and agrees that on a stipulated date in the future the Fund will repurchase the portfolio instrument by remitting the original consideration plus interest at an agreed upon rate. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may enable a Fund to avoid selling portfolio instruments at a time when a sale may be deemed to be disadvantageous, but the ability to enter into reverse repurchase agreements does not ensure that the Fund will be able to avoid selling portfolio instruments at a disadvantageous time. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s assets.

When effecting reverse repurchase agreements, liquid assets of each Fund, in a dollar amount sufficient to make payment for the obligations to be purchased, are segregated at the trade date. These securities are marked to market daily and maintained until the transaction is settled.

Short Sales

Each Fund may effect short sales of securities. A short sale involves the sale of a security that a Fund does not own in anticipation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefore) at a later date at a lower price. When selling short, a Fund must borrow the security sold short and will be obligated to return the security to the lender. This is accomplished by a later purchase of the security by the Fund to close its short position. When a Fund effects a short sale, it must maintain collateral in a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities with a value equal to the current market value of the securities sold short less any cash deposited with its broker. A Fund may not sell a security short if, as

a result of that sale, the current value of securities sold short by the Fund would exceed 10% of the value of such Fund’s net assets.

The use of short sales is considered a speculative investment practice. The limited use of this practice, however, permits a Fund to pursue opportunities to profit from anticipated declines in the prices of particular securities which in the view of the Adviser are overvalued or are likely to be adversely affected by particular trends or events.

Each Fund may also effect short sales “against the box” to hedge against a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund. These transactions are not subject to the 10% limitation described above. If a Fund effects a short sale against the box, it will set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and hold those securities while the short sale is outstanding.

Borrowing

Each Fund may borrow money for investment purposes (which is a practice known as “leverage”). Leveraging creates an opportunity for increased investment returns, but at the same time, creates special risk considerations. For example, leveraging may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of a Fund’s shares and in the yield on a Fund’s portfolio. Although the principal amount of such borrowings will be fixed, a Fund’s net assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Since any decline in value of a Fund’s investments will be borne entirely by such Fund’s shareholders, the effect of leverage in a declining market would be a greater decrease in net asset value than if such Fund did not use leverage. Leveraging will create interest expenses for a Fund, which can exceed the investment return from the borrowed funds. To the extent the investment return derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest a Fund will have to pay, the Fund’s investment return will be greater than if leverage was not used. Conversely, if the investment return from the assets retained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of borrowings, the investment return of the Fund will be less than if leverage was not used. The Funds may also borrow money from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements for temporary, extraordinary or emergency purposes, including to make payments to pay redemptions, subject to the overall limitation that total borrowings by that Fund (including borrowing through reverse repurchase agreements) may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Fund's total assets (measured in each case at the time of borrowing).

SPECIAL INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

Each of the Funds may engage in transactions in options and futures contracts and options on futures contracts. These instruments derive their performance, at least in part, from the performance of an underlying asset or index. The discussion below provides additional information regarding the use of options on stock indices and stock index futures. Appendix B to this SAI sets forth further details regarding options and futures.

Use of Futures and Options

The CFTC has eliminated limitations on futures transactions and options thereon by registered investment companies, provided that the manager to the registered investment company claims an exclusion from regulation as a commodity pool operator. The Funds are managed by an entity that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

As to long positions which are used as part of a Fund’s investment strategy and are incidental to its activities in the underlying cash market, the “underlying commodity value” of a Fund’s futures and options thereon must not exceed the sum of (i) cash set aside in an identifiable manner, or short-term U.S. debt obligations or other dollar-denominated high-quality, short-term money instruments so set aside, plus sums deposited on margin; (ii) cash proceeds from existing investments due in 30 days; and (iii) accrued profits held at the futures commission merchant. The “underlying commodity value” of a future is computed by multiplying the size of the future by the daily settlement price of the future. For an option on a future, that value is the underlying commodity value of the future underlying the option.

Each of the Funds may purchase call and put options on securities to seek capital growth or for hedging purposes. Each Fund may also write and sell covered call and put options and purchase and write options on stock indices (such as the S&P 500 Index) listed on domestic or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market for hedging purposes.

Each of the Funds may invest up to 10% of the value of its assets, represented by premiums paid, to purchase call and put options on securities and securities indices. No Fund may write covered call and put options on securities and securities indices with aggregate exercise prices in excess of 15% of the value of its assets.

The Trust has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” with the National Futures Association. Therefore, the Trust is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

Risks of Options on Stock Indices

The purchase and sale of options on stock indices will be subject to risks applicable to options transactions generally. In addition, the distinctive characteristics of options on indices create certain risks that are not present with stock options. Index prices may be distorted if trading of certain stocks included in the index is interrupted. Trading in index options also may be interrupted in certain circumstances such as if trading were halted in a substantial number of stocks included in the index or if dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is interrupted. If this occurred, a Fund would not be able to close out options which it had purchased and, if restrictions on exercise were imposed, may be unable to exercise an option it holds, which could result in losses if the underlying index moves adversely before trading resumes. However, it is a policy to purchase options only on indices that include a sufficient number of stocks so that the likelihood of a trading halt in the index is minimized.

The purchaser of an index option may also be subject to a timing risk. If an option is exercised by a Fund before final determination of the closing index value for that day, the risk exists that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change caused the exercised option to fall out-of- the-money (that is, the exercising of the option would result in a loss, not a gain), a Fund would be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer. Although a Fund may be able to minimize this risk by withholding exercise instructions until just before the daily cutoff time, it may not be possible to eliminate this risk entirely because the exercise cutoff times for index options may be earlier than those fixed for other types of options and may occur before definitive closing index values are announced. Alternatively, when the index level is close to the exercise price, a Fund may sell rather than exercise the option. Although the markets for certain index option contracts have developed rapidly, the markets for other index options are not as liquid. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. It is not certain that this market will develop in all index option contracts. The Funds will not purchase or sell any index option contract unless and until, in the opinion of the Adviser, the market for such options has developed sufficiently that such risk in connection with such transactions is no greater than such risk in connection with options on stocks.

Stock Index Futures Characteristics

Currently, stock index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect to several different stock indices, each based on a different measure of market performance. A determination as to which of the index contracts would be appropriate for purchase or sale by a Fund will be based upon, among other things, the liquidity offered by such contracts and the volatility of the underlying index.

Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Instead, each Fund will be required to deposit in a segregated asset account an amount of cash or qualifying securities (currently, U.S. Treasury bills) currently ranging

from approximately 10% to 15% of the contract amount. This is called “initial margin.” Such initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract which is returned to each Fund upon termination of the futures contract. Gains and losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in the form of variation margin payments which the Fund may be required to make during the term of the contracts to its broker. Such payments would be required where, during the term of a stock index futures contract purchased by a Fund, the price of the underlying stock index declined, thereby making a Fund’s position less valuable. In all instances involving the purchase of stock index futures contracts by a Fund, an amount of cash together with such other securities as permitted by applicable regulatory authorities to be utilized for such purpose, at least equal to the market value of the futures contracts, will be deposited in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian to collateralize the position. At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, a Fund may elect to close its position by taking an opposite position which will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. For a more complete discussion of the risks involved in stock index futures, refer to Appendix B - Futures and Options.

Where futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the price of a security before a Fund is able to fashion its program to invest in the security or in options on the security, it is possible that the market may decline instead. If a Fund, as a result, concluded not to make the planned investment at that time because of concern as to the possible further market decline or for other reasons, a Fund would realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of securities purchased.

In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect correlation or no correlation at all between movements in the stock index future and the portion of the portfolio being hedged, the price of stock index futures may not correlate perfectly with movements in the stock index due to certain market distortions. All participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the index itself and the value of a future. Moreover, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market and may therefore cause increased participation by speculators in the futures market. Such increased participation may also cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortion in the futures market and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in stock indices and movements in the prices of stock index futures, the value of stock index futures contracts as a hedging device may be reduced. In addition, if a Fund has insufficient available cash, it may at times have to sell securities to meet variation margin requirements. Such sales may have to be effected at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Except as noted, the investment restrictions set forth below are fundamental and may not be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund. Where an asterisk (*) appears, the relevant policy is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval. As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund” means the lesser of (1) the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of a Fund or (2) 67% of the shares of a Fund present if more than

50% of the shares are present at a meeting in person or by proxy.

1.	Diversification

With respect to 75% of its total assets, each Fund may not purchase a security, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, if as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of that Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of any one issuer, or that Fund would own more than 10% of the voting securities of any one issuer.

The SEC has taken the position that, for purposes of the restrictions applicable to a fund’s diversification, such as those set forth in this Section 1 above, investments in securities of other investment companies, including in exchange-traded funds, are considered investments in the portfolio securities of such investment companies.

2.	Investment for Purposes of Control or Management*

Each Fund may not invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.

3.	Purchase of Securities on Margin*

Each Fund may not purchase securities on margin, except that it may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of transactions. A deposit or payment by that Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with financial futures contracts or related options transactions is not considered the purchase of a security on margin.

4.	Underwriting

Each Fund will not underwrite any issue of securities except as it may be deemed an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the sale of securities in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and limitations.

5.	Interests in Oil, Gas or Other Mineral Exploration or Development Programs

Each Fund may not purchase, sell or invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs.

6.	Short Sales

Each Fund may effect short sales of securities subject to the limitation that a Fund may not sell a security short if, as a result of such sale, the current value of securities sold short by that Fund would exceed 10% of the value of that Fund’s net assets; provided, however, if the Fund owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (i.e., short sales “against the box”), this limitation is not applicable.

7.	Lending of Funds and Securities

Each Fund may not make loans of money or securities, except to the extent that a Fund may lend money through the purchase of permitted investments, including repurchase agreements, and the Balance Fund and Financial Services Fund may lend securities in accordance with such procedures as may be adopted by the Trustees.

Each Fund may not lend its portfolio securities, unless the borrower is a broker-dealer or financial institution that pledges and maintains collateral with that Fund consisting of cash or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government having a value at all times not less than 100% of the current market-value of the loaned securities, including accrued interest, provided that the aggregate amount of such loans shall not exceed 30% of a Fund’s net assets.

8.	Commodities

Each Fund may not purchase, sell or invest in commodities, provided that this restriction shall not prohibit a Fund from purchasing and selling securities or other instruments backed by commodities or financial futures contracts and related options, including but not limited to, currency futures contracts and stock index futures.

9.	Real Estate

Each Fund may not purchase, sell or invest in real estate, but may invest in securities of companies that deal in real estate or are engaged in the real estate business, including real estate investment trusts, and securities secured by real estate or interests therein and may hold and sell real estate acquired through default, liquidation or other distributions of an interest in real estate as a result of a Fund’s ownership of such securities.

10.	Borrowing, Senior Securities, Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Each Fund may not issue senior securities as defined by the 1940 Act, except that a Fund may borrow money from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements (i) in the aggregate amount of up to 10% of the value of its assets to increase its holdings of portfolio securities and (ii) for temporary extraordinary or emergency purposes, subject to the overall limitation that total

borrowings by that Fund (including borrowing through reverse repurchase agreements) may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Fund’s total assets (measured in each case at the time of borrowing).

11.	Joint Trading*

Each Fund may not participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any trading account in any securities. (The “bunching” of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities with the Adviser or accounts under its management to reduce brokerage commissions, to average prices among them or to facilitate such transactions is not considered a trading account in securities for purposes of this restriction.)

12.	Pledging Assets

Each Fund may not pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise encumber its assets, except to secure permitted borrowings and to implement collateral and similar arrangements incident to permitted investment practices.

13.	Investing in Securities of Other Investment Companies*

Each Fund currently intends to limit its investment in securities issued by other investment companies so that not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by a Fund, or its affiliated persons, as a whole in accordance with the 1940 Act and applicable federal securities laws. Each Fund is permitted to invest 25% of its total assets in the Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund pursuant to the terms of an exemption granted by the SEC.

14.	Illiquid Securities*

Each Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities and other securities which are not readily marketable, including repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than seven days, but excluding securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act which the Trustees have determined to be liquid.

15.

Options*

Each Fund may write, purchase or sell put or call options on securities, stock indices and foreign currencies, or combinations thereof, as discussed elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information.

16.	Futures Contracts*

Each Fund may purchase financial futures contracts and related options for “bona fide hedging” purposes and for non-hedging purposes provided that aggregate initial margin deposits plus premiums paid by that Fund for open futures options positions, less the amount by which any such positions are “in-the-money,” may not exceed 20% of a Fund’s total assets.

17.	Concentration in Any One Industry

Each of the Balance Fund, the Dividend Fund, the Innovators Fund, the Transformations Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the securities in any single industry, provided that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of U.S. Government securities. The Financial Services Fund, however, will invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the securities of institutions in the financial services industry.

*	Non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval.

Except as otherwise stated in this SAI or in the Prospectus, if a percentage limitation set forth in an investment policy or restriction of a Fund is adhered to at the time of investment or at the time a Fund engages in a transaction, a subsequent increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in value of an investment or position, or a change in the net assets of a Fund, will not result in a violation of such restriction.

For purposes of their policies and limitations, a Fund considers certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits issued by a U.S. branch of a domestic bank or savings and loan association having capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 at the time of investment to be “cash items.”

Each Fund’s investment objectives are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund.

CERTAIN RISK CONSIDERATIONS

There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective and an investment in a Fund involves certain risks which are described under each Fund’s “SUMMARY SECTION,” “ABOUT THE FUND - Main Risks” and “THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENTS AND RELATED RISKS” in the Prospectus.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010 and 2009 the portfolio turnover rates for the Funds are presented in the table below. Variations in turnover rate may be due to a fluctuating volume of shareholder purchase and redemption orders, market conditions, or changes in the Adviser’s investment strategy.

Turnover Rates	2010	2009
Balance Fund	16%	41%
Dividend Fund	506%	654%
Financial Services Fund	133%	437%
Innovators Fund	22%	20%
Transformations Fund	52%	57%
Accelerating Dividend Fund(1)	225%(2)	104%

(1) Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008.

(2) Portfolio turnover for the Accelerating Dividend Fund increased significantly due to the Fund’s participation in a large number of attractively priced secondary offerings.

MANAGEMENT

The Board has the responsibility for the overall management of the Trust and each Fund, including general supervision and review of each Fund’s investment activities and it conformity with Delaware law and the stated policies of a Fund. The Board of Trustees elects the officers of the Trust who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

The Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as that term is defined within the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), and executive officers of the Trust, their ages and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The address of each Trustee and officer is 2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215, Purchase, New York 10577.

Independent Trustees

Name, Address and Year of Birth	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation During Past Five Years	# of Portfolios in Fund Complex**	Other Directorships Held by Trustee in the Past Five Years
Laurence B. Ashkin	Independent	Indefinite,	Real estate developer	17	Board of Trustees Chairman,
(1928)	Trustee	since the	since 1980; Founder and		Perspective Charter Schools,
		Trust’s	President, Centrum		Chicago, IL (2007 to Present);
		inception	Properties, Inc. (1980-		Illinois Network of Charter
			2009).		Schools (since 2004); Director,
					Chicago Public Media (2004 to
					Present); Director, Friends of
					Arizona Public Radio (2010 to
					Present); Trustee of each of the
					Alpine Trusts.****
H. Guy Leibler (1954)	Independent	Indefinite,	Private investor since	17	Chairman Emeritus, White Plains
	Trustee	since the	2007; Vice Chair and		Hospital Center (1988 to Present);
		Trust’s	Chief Operating Officer,		Trustee of each of the Alpine
		inception	L&L Acquisitions, LLC		Trusts (1996 to Present).****
			(2004–2007).
Jeffrey E. Wacksman	Independent	Indefinite,	Partner, Loeb, Block &	17	Director, International Succession
(1960)	Trustee	since 2004	Partners LLP since 1994.		Planning Association; Director,
					Bondi Icebergs Inc. (Women’s
					Sportswear); Director, MH
					Properties, Inc.; Trustee of each of
					the Alpine Trusts.****
James A. Jacobson	Independent	Indefinite,	Retired, since	17	Trustee of each of the Alpine
(1945)	Trustee	since July 2009	2008; Vice Chairman		Trusts; **** Trustee of Allianz
			and Managing Director,		Global Investors Multi-Funds
			Spear Leeds & Kellogg		(2009 to Present).
			Specialists, LLC,
			(2003-2008).

Interested Trustees & Officers

Name, Address and Year of Birth	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation During Past Five Years	# of Portfolios in Fund Complex**	Other Directorships Held by Trustee
Samuel A.	Interested	Indefinite,	Chief Executive Officer,	17	Trustee of each of the
Lieber* (1956)	Trustee,	since the	Alpine Woods Capital		Alpine Trusts.****
	President and	Trust’s	Investors, LLC since
	Portfolio	inception	1997;
	Manager		President of Alpine
			Trusts since 1998.
Stephen A.	Vice President	Indefinite,	Chief Investment	N/A	None
Lieber*** (1925)	and Portfolio	since the	Officer, Alpine Woods
	Manager	Trust’s	Capital Investors, LLC
		inception	since 2003; Chairman
			and Senior Portfolio
			Manager, Saxon Woods
			Advisors, LLC since
			1999.
Robert W.	Vice President	Indefinite,	Portfolio Manager and	N/A	None
Gadsden (1956)	and Portfolio	since 1999	Senior Real Estate
	Manager		Analyst, Alpine Woods
			Capital Investors, LC
			since 1999.
John Megyesi	Chief	Indefinite,	Chief Compliance	N/A	None
(1960)	Compliance	since January	Officer, Alpine Woods
	Officer	16, 2009	Capital Investors, LLC
			since 2009; Vice
			President and Manager,
			Trade Surveillance,
			Credit Suisse Asset
			Management, LLC
			(2006-2009); Manager,
			Trading and
			Surveillance, Allianz
			Global Investors (2004-
			2006).
Andrew Pappert	Secretary	Indefinite,	Director of Fund	N/A	None
(1980)		since March	Operations, Alpine
		2009	Woods Capital Investors,
			LLC since
			2008; Assistant Vice
			President, Mutual Fund
			Operations, Credit Suisse
			Asset Management, LLC
			(2003-2008).
Ronald G. Palmer, Jr.	Chief Financial	Indefinite,	Chief Financial Officer,	N/A	None
(1968)	Officer	since	Alpine Woods Capital
		January 2010	Investors, LLC since
			2009; Independent
			Consultant (2008-2009);
			Vice President Cash
			Management and
			Foreign Exchange,
			Macquarie Capital
			Investment Management,
			LLC (2007-2008); Chief
			Operating Officer,
			Macquarie Fund Adviser,
			LLC (2004-2007).
Meimei Li	Treasurer	Indefinite,	Controller, Alpine	N/A	None
(1964)		since	Woods Capital Investors,
		March 2009	LLC since
			2007; Senior Accountant
			Pinnacle Group (2005-
			2007); Senior Auditor,
			Eisner & Lubin (2001- 2005).

*	Denotes Trustees who are “interested persons” of the Trust or Fund under the 1940 Act.

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC currently manages seventeen portfolios within the six investment companies that comprise the Alpine Trusts. The Trust, Alpine Equity Trust and Alpine Income Trust are each registered as an open-end management investment company. The Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund and Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund are each registered as a closed-end management investment company. The Trustees currently oversee seventeen portfolios within the six Alpine Trusts.

***	Stephen A. Lieber is the father of Samuel A. Lieber.

****	The Trustees identified in this SAI are members of the Board of Trustees for each of the Trust, Alpine Equity Trust, Alpine Income Trust, Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund and Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund (the “Alpine Trusts”).

The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Board possesses the requisite attributers and skills. The Board also believes that the Trustee’s ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties support this conclusion.

In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills apply to each Trustee. Mr. Ashkin has substantial experience in business focusing on real estate development. Mr. Leibler has substantial experience as a senior executive of an operating company. Mr. Wacksman has substantial experience practicing law and advising clients with respect to various business transactions. Mr. Jacobson has substantial experience as a senior executive of a specialist broker. Mr. Lieber has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser since its inception and has substantial experience as an executive and portfolio manager and in leadership roles with Alpine Funds and the Adviser. References to the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board as a whole.

The Board has three standing Committees: (1) the Audit Committee, (2) the Valuation Committee and (3) the Nominating Committee. Each Committee consists of all four of the Independent Trustees. Where deemed appropriate, the Board may constitute ad hoc committees.

Mr. Lieber serves as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Leibler serves as Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee works with the Chairman of the Board to set the agendas for Board meetings. The Lead Independent Trustee also serves as a key point person for interaction between management and the Independent Trustees. The Board also has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information between the Independent Trustees and management.

The Audit Committee oversees the scope of the Fund’s audit, the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and its internal controls. The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the integrity of the Fund’s accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices, the qualifications and independence of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee approves, and recommends to the Board for ratification, the selection, appointment, retention or termination of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and approves the compensation of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund by the independent registered public accounting firm and all permissible non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to its Adviser and service providers if the engagement relates directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting. The Audit Committee also assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for the review

and negotiation of the Fund’s investment advisory arrangements. The Audit Committee met [four] times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

The Valuation Committee is responsible for (1) monitoring the valuation of Fund securities and other investments; and (2) as required, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, reviewing and approving the fair value of illiquid and other holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations are reported to the Board of Trustees. The Valuation Committee met [four] times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

The Nominating Committee is responsible for overseeing Board governance and related Trustee practices, including selecting and recommending candidates to fill vacancies on the Board. The Nominating Committee may consider nominees recommended by a shareholder. In evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended by shareholders, the Nominating Committee takes into consideration various factors, including, among any others it may deem relevant, character and integrity, business and professional experience, and whether the committee believes the person has the ability to apply sound and independent business judgment and would act in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send recommendations to the Trust’s Secretary that include all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of Trustees. A recommendation must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by the shareholders. The Nominating Committee met [four] times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

Service providers to the Fund, primarily the Adviser, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management. As an integral part of its responsibility for oversight of the Fund, the Board oversees risk management of the Fund’s investment program and business affairs. Oversight of the risk management process is part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and their service providers.

The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment risk, counterparty risk, valuation risk, reputational risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. The Adviser or various service providers to the Fund employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Various personnel, including the Fund’s and the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer as well as personnel of other service providers, such as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management, as well as events and circumstances that have arisen and responses thereto. The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to inherent limitations.

Compensation

The Trust pays an annual fee to each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Adviser or the Distributor (or any affiliated company of the Adviser or the Distributor) in the amount of $5,538. Travel expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or distributor (or any affiliated company of the Adviser or distributor) that are incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board will also be reimbursed.

Set forth below for each of the Trustees is the aggregate compensation (and expenses) paid to such Trustees by the Trust for the twelve-month period ended October 31, 2010.

Name	Aggregate Compensation from Trust(1)		Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Trust Expenses		Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement		Total Compensation from Fund Complex Paid to Trustees(2)
Laurence B. Ashkin	$	5,538	$	0	$	0	$	60,000
H. Guy Leibler	$	6,538	$	0	$	0	$	75,000
Jeffrey E. Wacksman	$	5,538	$	0	$	0	$	60,000
James A. Jacobson	$	5,538	$	0	$	0	$	60,000
Samuel A. Lieber	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0

(1)

Trustees fees and expenses are allocated among all of the Funds comprising the Trust. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Trustee fees and expenses were allocated to each Fund as follows: $ 3,779 to the Balance Fund, $ 4,568 to the Dividend Fund, $ 3,703 to the Financial Services Fund, $3,708 to the Innovators Fund, $ 3,700 to the Transformations Fund and $ 3,696 to the Accelerating Dividend Fund.

(2)	These figures represent the annual aggregate compensation by the Fund Complex for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The Fund Complex is currently comprised of six separate registrants consisting of seventeen portfolios.

Trustee and Officer Ownership of Fund Shares

As of December 31, 2010, Samuel Lieber owned 3.4% of the Balance Fund’s shares and 2.8% of the Financial Services Fund’s shares. Stephen Lieber owned 40.4% of the Balance Fund’s shares, 1.1% of the Dividend Fund’s shares, 3.2% of the Financial Services Fund’s shares, 19.5% of the Innovators Fund’s shares and 55.9% of the Accelerating Dividend Fund’s shares. All other officers and Trustees of the Trust owned as a group less than 1% of outstanding shares of each of the Balance Fund, the Dividend Fund, the Financial Services Fund, the Innovators Fund, the Transformations Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund.

Set forth below is the dollar range of equity securities of each of the Funds beneficially owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2010:

A.	None
B.	$1-$10,000
C.	$10,001-$50,000
D.	$50,001-$100,000
E.	$100,001-$500,000
F.	$500,001-$1,000,000
G.	Over $1,000,000

Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned

			Financial			Accelerating	Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of
	Balance	Dividend	Services	Innovators	Transformations	Dividend	Investment
Name	Fund	Fund	Fund	Fund	Fund	Fund	Companies*
Independent Trustees
Laurence B. Ashkin	A	A	A	A	A	A	B
H. Guy Leibler	A	A	A	A	A	A	C
Jeffrey E. Wacksman	A	C	D	D	A	A	E
James A. Jacobson	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
Interested Trustees
Samuel A. Lieber	G	G	E	A	A	A	G

Includes holdings of each series of the Alpine Series Trust (Balance Fund, Dividend Fund, Financial Services Fund, Innovators Fund, Transformations Fund and Accelerating Dividend Fund), the Alpine Equity Trust (Alpine Global Consumer Growth Fund, Alpine Cyclical Advantage Property Fund, Alpine International Real Estate Equity Fund, Alpine Realty Income & Growth Fund, Alpine Emerging Markets Real Estate Fund and Alpine Global Infrastructure Fund), the Alpine Income Trust (Alpine Municipal Money Market Fund and Alpine Ultra Short Tax Optimized Income Fund), Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund and Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund.

As of December 31, 2010, Lieber family beneficial holdings in the three unregistered funds managed by the Adviser included 38.5% of Alpine Woods Growth Values Financial Equities, L.P., 96.1% of Alpine Woods Global Growth Values, L.P. and 66.9% of Alpine Woods Growth Values, L.P.

As of December 31, 2010, none of the Independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of the Adviser or Distributor of the Funds, or of a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser or distributor of the Funds.

No officer of the Adviser or the Distributor, or officers of persons directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or the Distributor has served during the two most recently completed calendar years, on the board of directors of a company where an Independent Trustee or immediate family member of such Trustee, was, during the two most recently completed calendar years, an officer.

Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities

A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any Fund.

Set forth below is information with respect to each person who to the Trust’s knowledge, owned beneficially or of record more than 5% of any class of a Fund’s total outstanding shares and their aggregate ownership of such Fund’s total outstanding shares as of January 31, 2011. The information set forth below includes only Institutional Class shares (formerly Investor Class) as Class A Shares were not available during the period.

Balance Fund

Name and Address	% of Shares	Type of Ownership
Stephen A. Lieber	34.63%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Essel Foundation	17.64%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Janice Ruth Lieber Trust	6.25%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577


Constance E. Lieber Trust	5.87%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Dividend Fund

Name and Address	% of Shares	Type of Ownership
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	21.01%	Record
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104

TD Ameritrade, Inc. PO Box 2226	9.00%	Record
Omaha, NE 68103

Prudential Investment Management Service	5.24%	Record
3 Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102-4056

Financial Services Fund

Name and Address	% of Shares	Type of Ownership
Daniel P. Tully	14.08%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc	11.92%	Record
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

TD Ameritrade, Inc.	7.10%	Record
PO Box 2226
Omaha, NE 68103

NFS LLC.	5.01%	Record
1200 Crown Colony Dr.
Quincy, MA 02169-0938

Innovators Fund

Name and Address	% of Shares	Type of Ownership
Stephen A. Lieber	10.28%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Daniel P. Tully	10.21%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Essel Foundation	9.64%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Constance E. Lieber	9.64%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Charles Schwab	7.05%	Record
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-4151

Transformations Fund

Name and Address	% of Shares	Type of Ownership
Stephen A. Lieber	37.06%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Essel Foundation	18.54%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Constance E. Lieber	5.56%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

Accelerating Dividend Fund

Name and Address	% of Shares	Type of Ownership
Stephen A. Lieber	55.88%	Beneficial
c/o Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC
2500 Westchester Avenue Suite 215
Purchase, NY 10577

NFS LLC.	33.85%	Record
1200 Crown Colony Dr.
Quincy, MA 02169-0938

CODE OF ETHICS

The Adviser and the Trust have adopted a joint Code of Ethics pursuant to Section 204A and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) has also adopted a Code of Ethics. Each Code of Ethics applies to the personal investing activities of the trustees, directors, officers and certain employees of the Trust, the Adviser or the Distributor (“Access Persons”), as applicable. Rule 17j-1 and each Code of Ethics is designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Each Code of Ethics permits Access Persons to trade securities for their own accounts and generally requires them to report their personal securities transactions. Each Code of Ethics is included as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, which is on file with, and available from, the SEC.

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES

The Board of Trustees of the Alpine Funds (the “Funds”) has approved the delegation of the authority to vote proxies relating to the securities held in the portfolios of the Funds to the Adviser after the Board reviewed and considered the proxy voting policies and procedures used by the Adviser which uses an independent service provider, as described below.

The Adviser’s goal in performing this service is to make proxy voting decisions: (i) to vote or not to vote proxies in a manner that serves the best economic interests of the Funds; and (ii) that avoid the influence of conflicts of interest. To implement this goal, the Adviser has adopted proxy voting guidelines (the “Proxy Voting Guidelines”) to assist it in making proxy voting decisions and in developing procedures for effecting those decisions. The Proxy Voting Guidelines are designed to ensure that where the Adviser has the authority to vote proxies, all legal, fiduciary, and contractual obligations will be met.

The Proxy Voting Guidelines address a wide variety of individual topics, including, among other matters, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures and the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, and various shareholder proposals.

Policies of the Adviser

The Adviser has delegated to Risk Metrics Group ISS Governance Services (“Risk Metrics”), an independent service provider, the administration of proxy voting for the Funds’ portfolio securities directly managed by the Adviser, subject to oversight by the Adviser’s Proxy Manager (in his or her absence the Director of Institutional Operations). Risk Metrics, a Delaware corporation, provides proxy-voting services to many asset managers on a global basis. The Adviser has reviewed, and will continue to review annually, the relationship with Risk Metrics and the quality and effectiveness of such services provided by Risk Metrics.

Specifically, Risk Metrics assists the Adviser in the proxy voting and corporate governance oversight process by developing and updating the “Risk Metrics Proxy Voting Guidelines,” which are incorporated into the Fund’s Proxy Voting Guidelines by reference, and by providing research and analysis, recommendations regarding votes, operational implementation, and recordkeeping and reporting services. The Adviser’s decision to retain Risk Metrics is based principally on the view that the services that Risk Metrics provides, subject to oversight by the Adviser, generally will result in proxy voting decisions which serve the best economic interests of the Funds’ shareholders. The Adviser has reviewed, analyzed, and determined that the Risk Metrics Proxy Voting Guidelines are consistent with the views of the Adviser on the various types of proxy proposals. When the Risk Metrics Proxy Voting Guidelines do not cover a specific proxy issue and Risk Metrics does not provide a recommendation, Risk Metrics will notify the Adviser; and the Adviser will use its best judgment in voting proxies on behalf of the Funds’ shareholders. The Risk Metrics Proxy Voting Guidelines can be found on their website (http://issgovernance.com/policy/2011/policy_information).

Conflicts of Interest

The Adviser does not engage in investment banking, administration or management of corporate retirement plans, or any other activity that is likely to create a potential conflict of interest. In addition, because Fund proxies are voted by Risk Metrics pursuant to the pre-determined Risk Metrics Proxy Voting Guidelines, the Adviser generally does not make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, and, therefore, proxies voted on behalf of a Fund do not reflect any conflict of interest. Nevertheless, the Proxy Voting Guidelines address the possibility of such a conflict of interest arising.

The Proxy Voting Guidelines provide that, if a proxy proposal were to create a conflict of interest between the interests of a Fund and those of the Adviser (or between a Fund and those of any of the Adviser’s affiliates), then the proxy should be voted strictly in conformity with the recommendation of Risk Metrics. To monitor compliance with this policy, and proposed or actual deviation from a recommendation of Risk Metrics must be reported to the Proxy Manager and the Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”) for the Adviser. The Proxy Manager and CCO for the Adviser will then provide guidance concerning the proposed deviation and whether a deviation presents any potential conflict of interest. If the Adviser then casts a proxy vote that deviates from an Risk Metrics recommendation, the affected Fund (or other appropriate Fund authority) will be given a report of this deviation.

Circumstances Under Which Proxies Will Not Be Voted

The Adviser, through Risk Metrics, shall attempt to process every vote for all domestic and foreign proxies that they receive; however, there may be cases in which the Adviser will not process a proxy because it is impractical or too expensive to do so. For example, the Adviser, will not process a proxy in connection with a foreign security if the cost of voting a foreign proxy outweighs the benefit of voting the foreign proxy, when the Adviser has not been given enough time to process the vote, or when a sell order for the foreign security is outstanding and proxy voting would impede the sale of the foreign security. Also, the Adviser generally will not seek to recall the securities on loan for the purpose of voting the securities unless the Adviser determines that the issue presented for a vote warrants recalling the security.

More Information

The actual voting records relating to the Fund’s portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request by calling toll-free, 1-888-785-5578 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Funds’ proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-888-785-5578 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS

The management of each Fund is supervised by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC provides investment advisory services to each Fund pursuant to investment advisory agreements entered into with the Trust (each an “Advisory Agreement”).

The Adviser, located at 2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215, Purchase, New York, 10577, is a Delaware limited liability company organized on December 3, 1997. It was formed for the purpose of providing investment advisory and management services to investment companies (including the Funds) and other advisory clients. All membership interests in the Adviser are owned by Alpine Woods, L.P. Mr. Samuel A. Lieber has a majority interest in this partnership and is the controlling person of its general partner. He co-founded the Adviser with his father, Stephen A. Lieber.

Under each Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to furnish reports, statistical and research services and recommendations with respect to each Fund’s portfolio of investments. In addition, the Adviser provides office facilities to each Fund and performs a variety of administrative services. Each Fund bears all of its other expenses and liabilities, including expenses incurred in connection with maintaining its registration under the 1933 Act, and the 1940 Act, printing prospectuses (for existing shareholders) as they are updated, state qualifications, mailings, brokerage, custodian and stock transfer charges, printing, legal and auditing expenses, expenses of shareholders’ meetings and reports to shareholders.

The annual percentage rate and method used in computing the investment advisory fee of each Fund is described in the Prospectus. The advisory fees paid by the Funds to the Adviser for the three most recent fiscal years ended October 31, were as follows:

Balance Fund

Year	Total Fees Accrued by Adviser		(Fees Waived)/ Expenses Recovered		Balance Paid to Adviser
2010	$	604,697	$	0	$	604,697
2009	$	511,518	$	0	$	511,518
2008	$	751,990	$	0	$	751,990

Dividend Fund

Year	Total Fees Accrued by Adviser		(Fees Waived)/ Expenses Recovered		Balance Paid to Adviser
2010	$	6,571,947	$	0	$	6,571,947
2009	$	5,213,424	$	0	$	5,213,424
2008	$	12,027,309	$	0	$	12,027,309

Financial Services Fund

Year	Total Fees Accrued by Adviser		(Fees Waived)/ Expenses Recovered			Balance Paid to Adviser
2010	$	83,737	$	(34,708	)	$	49,029
2009	$	62,150	$	(38,481	)	$	23,669
2008	$	99,234	$	(58,634	)	$	40,600

Innovators Fund

Year	Total Fees Accrued by Adviser		(Fees Waived)/ Expenses Recovered			Balance Paid to Adviser
2010	$	115,687	$	(29,521	)	$	86,166
2009	$	98,541	$	(31,680	)	$	66,861
2008	$	423,423	$	17,709		$	441,132

Transformations Fund

Year	Total Fees Accrued by Adviser		(Fees Waived)/ Expenses Recovered			Balance Paid to Adviser
2010	$	46,838	$	(37,330	)	$	9,508
2009	$	27,333	$	(41,270	)	$	(13,937	)
2008(1)	$	33,707	$	(53,829	)	$	(20,122	)

(1) Transformations Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

Accelerating Dividend Fund

Year	Total Fees Accrued by Adviser		(Fees Waived)/ Expenses Recovered			Balance Paid to Adviser
2010	$	21,132	$	(28,493	)	$	(7,361	)
2009(1)	$	10,416	$	(40,707	)	$	(30,291	)

(1) Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008.

Each Advisory Agreement is terminable, without the payment of any penalty, on sixty days’ written notice, by a vote of the holders of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding shares, by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or by the Adviser. Each Advisory Agreement provides that it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. Each Advisory Agreement provides in substance that the Adviser shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser or of reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder.

The Balance Fund’s Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, and the Balance Fund’s initial shareholder on June 4, 2001. The Dividend Fund’s Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees on September 23, 2003, and by its initial shareholder on August 28, 2003. The Financial Services Fund’s Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, and by its initial shareholder on March 21, 2005. The Innovators Fund’s Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, and by its initial shareholder on June 23, 2006. The Transformations Fund’s Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, and by its initial shareholder on December 17, 2007. The Accelerating Dividend Fund’s Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, and by its initial shareholder on September 22, 2008. Each Advisory Agreement may be continued in effect from year to year after its initial term, provided that its continuance is approved annually by the Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund, and in each case is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees by vote cast in person at a meeting duly called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its fees and to absorb expenses of the Funds to the extent necessary to assure that ordinary operating expenses of the Funds (including 12b-1 fees, but excluding interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed annually 1.35% (Institutional Class) and 1.60% (Class A Shares) of each of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Funds have agreed to repay the Adviser in the amount of any fees waived and Fund expenses absorbed, subject to the limitations that: (1) the reimbursement is made only for fees and expenses incurred not more than three years prior to the date of reimbursement; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the annual expense limitation to be exceeded. This arrangement will remain in effect unless and until the Board of Trustees approves its modification or termination. Waived expenses subject to potential recovery by year of expiration are as follows:

Year of Expiration	Financial Services Fund		Innovators Fund		Transformations Fund		Accelerating Dividend Fund
10/31/10	$	26,625	$	22,424		—		—
10/31/11	$	22,153		—	$	53, 829		—
10/31/12	$	38,481	$	31,680	$	41,270	$	40,707

Securities considered as investments for a Fund may also be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. If transactions on behalf of more than one fund during the same period increase the demand for securities purchased or the supply of securities sold, there may be an adverse effect on price or quantity. In addition, under its arrangements with unregistered funds that it manages, the Adviser receives a portion of the appreciation of such funds’ portfolios. This may create an incentive for the Adviser to allocate attractive investment opportunities to such funds. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by a Fund and one or more of such other accounts simultaneously, the Adviser will allocate the security transactions (excluding “hot” issues, in which the unregistered funds may not participate) in a manner which it believes to be fair and equitable under the circumstances. As a result of such allocations, there may be instances where a Fund will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example: (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment

policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where the Adviser reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. While these aggregations and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to a Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Trustees that the benefits from the Adviser’s organization outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. When two or more funds purchase or sell the same security on a given day from the same broker-dealer, such transactions may be averaged as to price.

It is the Adviser’s discretionary policy not to invest a Fund’s assets in the initial public offering of an issuer’s securities (“IPOs”), if, in aggregate, 10% or greater of such Fund’s shares are owned or controlled by the Adviser, affiliates of the Adviser, Messrs. Samuel or Stephen Lieber, their family members, and accounts for the benefit of such family members (the percentage of ownership will be calculated within 10 business days of each month-end based on ownership as of the last business day of the previous month). As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, this policy prohibits the following Funds from investing in IPOs: the Balance Fund, the Innovators Fund, the Transformations Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund.

Each Fund has adopted procedures under Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act to permit purchase and sales transactions to be effected between each Fund and other series of the Trust or series of Alpine Equity Trust and certain other accounts that are managed by the Adviser. Each Fund may from time to time engage in such transactions in accordance with these procedures.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Mr. Stephen A. Lieber and Mr. Samuel A. Lieber are the portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Balance Fund, the Innovators Fund and the Accelerating Dividend Fund. Mr. Bryan Keane and Mr. Andrew Kohl are co-portfolio managers of the Accelerating Dividend Fund. Mr. Stephen A. Lieber is the portfolio manager responsible for the day to day management of the Transformations Fund. Mr. Stephen Lieber is assisted by Ms. Sarah Hunt, associate portfolio manager, to manage the Transformations Fund and Innovators Fund. Mr. Peter J. Kovalski and Mr. Stephen A. Lieber are the portfolio manager responsible for the day to day management of the Financial Services Fund. Mr. Andrew Kohl is an associate portfolio manager of the Financial Services Fund. The following tables show the number of other accounts managed by Messrs. Lieber, Ms. Hunt and Mr. Kovalski and the total assets in the accounts managed within various categories as of October 31, 2010.

Stephen A. Lieber			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	0	$0	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	3	$116.7	0	$0
Other Accounts	0	$0	0	$0

Samuel A. Lieber			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	6	$957.6	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	2	$111.8	0	$0
Other Accounts	1	$18.5	0	$0

Sarah Hunt			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	0	$0	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	0	$0	0	$0
Other Accounts	0	$0	0	$0

Peter J. Kovalski			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	0	$0	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	1	$4.9	0	$0
Other Accounts	0	$0	0	$0

Bryan Keane			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	0	$0	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	0	$0	0	$0
Other Accounts	0	$0	0	$0

Andrew Kohl			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	2	$1,450.6	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	0	$0	0	$0
Other Accounts	0	$0	0	$0

Material Conflict of Interest. Where conflicts of interest arise between the Balance Fund, Innovators Fund, Accelerating Dividend Fund, the Transformations Fund or the Financial Services Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, including unregistered funds, the portfolio managers will proceed in a manner that ensures that the Balance Fund, Innovators Fund, Accelerating Dividend Fund, the Transformations Fund or the Financial Services Fund will not be treated materially less favorably. There may be instances where similar portfolio transactions may be executed for the same security for more than one account managed by the portfolio managers. In such instances, securities will be allocated in accordance with the Adviser’s trade allocation policy.
Ms. Jill K. Evans and Mr. Kevin Shacknofsky are the co-portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Dividend Fund. Mr. Joshua Duitz and Mr. Brian Hennessey are associate portfolio managers of the Dividend Fund. The following tables show the number of other accounts managed by Ms. Evans, Mr. Shacknofsky, Mr. Duitz and Mr. Hennessey and the total assets in the accounts managed within various categories as of October 31, 2010.

Jill K. Evans			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets ($ in millions)	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	2	$1,450.6	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	0	$0	0	$0
Other Accounts	1	$7.69	0	$0

Kevin Shacknofsky			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	2	$1,450.6	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	0	$0	0	$0
Other Accounts	1	$7.69	0	$0

Joshua Duitz			with Advisory Fee based on performance

Type of Accounts	Number of Accounts	Total Assets	Number of Accounts	Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies	3	$1,452.8	0	$0
Other Pooled Investments	0	$0	0	$0
Other Accounts	0	$0	0	$0

Material Conflicts of Interest. Where conflicts of interest arise between the Dividend Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, including unregistered funds, the portfolio managers will proceed in a manner that ensures that the Dividend Fund will not be treated materially less favorably. There may be instances where similar portfolio transactions may be executed for the same security for more than one account managed by the portfolio managers. In such instances, securities will be allocated in accordance with the Adviser’s trade allocation policy.

Compensation. The Adviser’s compensation and incentive program varies by professional and discipline. A portfolio manager’s compensation is determined by a formula which incorporates performance relative to returns of comparable mutual funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc, Morningstar or Bloomberg LLP. Incentive compensation is scaled disproportionately to reward top quintile and decile performance and disincentivized compensation is applied for below average performance.

Securities Owned in the Funds by Portfolio Managers. As of October 31, 2010, the portfolio managers owned the following equity securities in the Funds:

Dollar Range of Equity Securities

Amount Invested Key
A. None
B. $1-$10,000
C. $10,001-$50,000
D. $50,001-$100,000
E. $100,001-$500,000
F. $500,001-$1,000,000
G. Over $1,000,000

Name of Portfolio Manager	Balance Fund	Dividend Fund	Financial Services Fund	Innovators Fund	Transformations Fund	Accelerating Dividend Fund	Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Registered Investment Companies overseen by Portfolio Manager in Family of Investment Companies

Stephen A. Lieber	G	G	E	G	G	G	G
Samuel A. Lieber	G	G	E	E	A	A	G
Sarah Hunt	A	A	A	B	A	A	B
Jill K. Evans	B	E	B	B	B	B	E
Kevin Shacknofsky	A	B	A	A	A	A	B
Joshua Duitz	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
Bryan Keane	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
Andrew Kohl	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
Peter J. Kovalski	A	A	D	B	A	A	D

DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING

Distributor

Each Fund has entered into a distribution agreement with Quasar Distributors, LLC, an affiliate of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and U.S. Bank N.A., located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, (the “Distributor”). The Distributor’s obligation is an agency or “best efforts” arrangement under which the Distributor will use best efforts to effect sales of shares of each Fund, but is not obligated to sell any certain number of shares. The public offering of each Fund’s shares is continuous. The distribution agreement is renewable from year to year if approved (a) by the Board or the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Fund, and (b) by a majority vote of the Board who are not “interested persons” of any party to the distribution agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

Distribution Plan

The Funds adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Plan authorizes payments by the Class A Shares of the Funds in connection with the distribution of shares as follows:

Class A Shares	Distribution and Service (12b-1)Fee
	(as a % of average daily net assets)
Balance Fund	0.25%
Dividend Fund	0.25%
Financial Services Fund	0.25%
Innovators Fund	0.25%
Transformations Fund	0.25%
Accelerating Dividend Fund	0.25%

Payments may be made by the Class A Shares under the Plan for the purpose of financing any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Fund, as determined by the Board. Such activities typically include advertising; compensation for sales and sales marketing activities of financial service agents and others, such as dealers or distributors; shareholder account servicing; production and dissemination of prospectuses and sales and marketing materials; and capital or other expenses of associated equipment, rent, salaries, bonuses, interest and other overhead. To the extent any activity is one which the Fund (or class) may finance without the Plan, the Class A Shares may also make payments to finance such activity outside of the Plan and not subject to its limitations. Payments under the Plan are based upon a percentage of average daily net assets attributable to the Fund regardless of the amounts actually paid or expenses actually incurred by the Distributor; however, in no event, may such payments exceed the maximum allowable fee. It is, therefore, possible that the Distributor may realize a profit in a particular year as a result of these payments. The Plan increases the Fund’s expenses from what they would otherwise be.

The Plan is subject to the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which requires that the Board receive and review at least quarterly reports concerning the nature and qualification of expenses which are made, that the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approve all agreements implementing the Plan and that the Plan may be continued from year-to-year only if the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concludes at least annually that continuation of the Plan is likely to benefit shareholders.

In their consideration of the Plan, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees considered all factors they deemed relevant, and concluded that there is reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit each Fund and its shareholders.

No interested person of the Trust, the Funds, or any Independent Trustee has any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans except to the extent that the Distributor and certain of its employees may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of receiving a portion of the amounts expended under the Plan.

The Funds may enter into agreements with certain organizations that provide various services to Fund shareholders. Pursuant to such agreements, organizations that provide shareholder services may be entitled to receive fees from the Fund at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the shares covered by their respective agreements for shareholder support pursuant to the Plan. Such support may include, among other things, assisting investors in processing their purchase, exchange, or redemption requests, or processing dividend and distribution payments.

Since the Class A Shares has yet to be offered, as of [December 30, 2011] the Funds have paid no 12b-1 fees.

Class A Shares	Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
Balance Fund	$0.00
Dividend Fund	$0.00
Financial Services Fund	$0.00
Innovators Fund	$0.00
Transformations Fund	$0.00
Accelerating Dividend Fund	$0.00

The Adviser may pay out of its own legitimate profits similar amounts to investors or sellers of the Funds’ shares.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

Transfer Agent, Administrator and Fund Accountant

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., PO Box 8061, Boston, MA 02266, acts as each Fund’s transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent. State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, acts as each Fund’s administrator, custodian and fund accountant and assists in the supervision of all aspects of the operations of the Fund (except those performed by the Adviser or Transfer Agent); preparing certain period reports; assisting in the preparation of tax returns; and preparing materials for use in connection with meetings of Trustees and shareholders. Prior to December 13, 2010, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“U.S. Bancorp”), located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, acted as each Fund’s, transfer agent and dividend-disbursing agent and provided administration and accounting services to the Funds. The fees paid to U.S. Bancorp for administrative services for the past three fiscal years ended October 31 were:

Administrative Fees	2010		2009		2008
Balance Fund	$	27,162	$	22,758	$	24,524
Dividend Fund	$	287,758	$	201,469	$	440,631
Financial Services Fund	$	4,878	$	2,753	$	3,647
Innovators Fund	$	4,856	$	4,112	$	14,841
Transformations Fund(1)	$	2,128	$	1,192	$	1,206
Accelerating Dividend Fund(2)	$	971	$	411		N/A

(1)	Transformations Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

(2)	The Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008.

The fees paid to U.S. Bancorp for Transfer Agent services for the past three fiscal years ended October 31 were:

Transfer Agent Fees	2010		2009		2008
Balance Fund	$	27,111	$	22,775	$	25,949
Dividend Fund	$	287,708	$	201,458	$	468,631
Financial Services Fund	$	4,808	$	2,751	$	3,867
Innovators Fund	$	4,806	$	4,113	$	15,800
Transformations Fund(1)	$	2,068	$	1,198	$	1,269
Accelerating Dividend Fund(2)	$	911	$	414		N/A

(1)	Transformations Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

(2)	The Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008.

The fees paid to U.S. Bancorp for Accounting services for the past three fiscal years ended October 31 were:

Accounting Fees	2010		2009		2008
Balance Fund	$	16,143	$	14,372	$	12,673
Dividend Fund	$	172,459	$	127,249	$	227,019
Financial Services Fund	$	3,275	$	1,731	$	1,887
Innovators Fund	$	2,906	$	2,595	$	7,666
Transformations Fund(1)	$	1,281	$	752	$	629
Accelerating Dividend Fund(2)	$	1,087	$	260		N/A

(1)	Transformations Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

(2)	The Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

[ ] is the independent registered public accounting firm of each Fund.

Fund Counsel

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP , 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, serves as counsel to the Trust and each of the Funds.

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, acts as each Fund’s custodian. Prior to December 1, 2010, U.S. Bank N.A., 1555 N. River Center Dr., Suite 302, Milwaukee, WI 53212, acted as each Fund’s, except the Global Consumer Fund’s, custodian.

ALLOCATION OF BROKERAGE

Decisions regarding the placement of orders to purchase and sell investments for the Funds are made by the Adviser. A substantial portion of the transactions in equity securities for a Fund will occur on domestic stock exchanges. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment of brokerage commissions. In transactions on stock exchanges in the United States and some foreign exchanges, these commissions are negotiated. However, on many foreign stock exchanges these commissions are fixed. In the case of securities traded in the foreign and domestic over-the-counter markets, there is generally no stated commission, but the price usually includes an undisclosed commission or markup. Over-the-counter transactions will generally be placed directly with a principal market maker, although a Fund may place an over-the-counter order with a broker-dealer if a better price (including commission) and execution are available.

It is anticipated that most purchase and sale transactions involving fixed income securities will be with the issuer or an underwriter or with major dealers in such securities acting as principals. Such transactions are normally effected on a net basis and generally do not involve payment of brokerage commissions. However, the cost of securities purchased from an underwriter usually includes a commission paid by the issuer to the underwriter. Purchases or sales from dealers will normally reflect the spread between the bid and ask price.

The policy of each Fund regarding transactions for purchases and sales of securities is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, a Fund’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Board believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest commission cost could impede effective management and preclude a Fund or the Adviser from obtaining high quality brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser may rely on its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on their judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not ascertainable.

In seeking to implement a Fund’s policies, the Adviser places transactions with those brokers and dealers who it believes provide the most favorable prices and which are capable of providing efficient executions. If the Adviser believes such price and execution are obtainable from more than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to placing transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish research or research related services to a Fund or the Adviser. Such services may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following: information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale; statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investments; wire services; and appraisals or evaluations of securities. The information and services received by the Adviser from brokers and dealers may be of benefit in the management of accounts of other clients and may not in all cases benefit all or any Fund directly. While such services are useful and important in supplementing its own research and

facilities, the Adviser believes the value of such services is not determinable and does not significantly reduce its expenses.

	Aggregate Brokerage Commissions Paid during fiscal years ended October 31,
	2010		2009		2008
Balance Fund	$	28,221	$	57,752	$	79,018
Dividend Fund	$	7,223,234	$	6,698,194	$	7,296,603
Financial Services Fund	$	28,150	$	56,984	$	50,560
Innovators Fund	$	9,920	$	8,407	$	36,853
Transformations Fund*	$	5,447	$	2,238	$	7,955
Accelerating Dividend Fund**	$	7,054	$	1,474		N/A

*	The Transformations Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

**	The Accelerating Dividend Fund commenced operations on November 5, 2008.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, subject to applicable law, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act) to the Funds and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. The Adviser is authorized to pay a broker or dealer that provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer. The Adviser will engage in soft dollar or commission sharing transactions that comply with the requirements of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.

The Adviser’s research service payment program would use commissions to purchase research services with “intellectual content” such as, statistical, research, and other factual information or services. Examples of these types of research services include: investment research reports; access to analysts; execution systems and trading analytics; reports or databases containing corporate, fundamental, and technical analyses; portfolio modeling strategies; and economic research services, such as publications, chart services, and advice from economists concerning macroeconomics information, and analytical investment information about particular corporations. If the function or usage of a research service may in part fall outside the “intellectual content” criteria (such as accounting or marketing functions), then the Adviser will only use commissions to pay the portion of the service or research that assists it in the investment decision-making process, but will not use commissions to pay for that portion of a service that provides it with administrative assistance.

Arrangements for the receipt of research services from brokers may create conflicts of interest, such as reducing the expenses of the Adviser or increasing a Fund’s commission costs. Research services furnished to the Adviser by brokers that effect securities transactions for the Funds may be used by the Adviser in servicing other investment companies and accounts which the Adviser manages. Similarly, research services furnished to the Adviser by brokers that effect securities transactions for other investment companies and accounts which the Adviser manages may be used by the Adviser in servicing the Funds. Not all of these research services are used by the Adviser in managing any particular account, including the Funds.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Adviser and the Funds maintain portfolio holdings disclosure policies that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the portfolio investments held by the Funds. These portfolio holdings disclosure policies have been approved by the Board. Disclosure of the Funds’ complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q. The Funds’ portfolio holdings information will be dated as of the

end of each fiscal quarter and will be available with a lag time of up to 60 days from the end of each fiscal quarter. These reports are available, free of charge, on the IDEA database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

From time to time rating and ranking organizations such as Standard & Poor’s and Morningstar, Inc. may request complete portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Funds. Similarly, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants may request a complete list of portfolio holdings in order to assess the risks of the Funds’ portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The Funds believe that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information. To prevent such parties from potentially misusing portfolio holdings information, the Funds will generally only disclose such information as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter, with a lag of at least thirty days, as described above. In addition, the Fund’s CCO, or a designated officer of the Trust, may grant exceptions to permit additional disclosure of portfolio holdings information at differing times and with differing lag times to rating agencies and to pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants, provided that (1) the recipient is subject to a confidentiality agreement, (2) the recipient will utilize the information to reach certain conclusions about the investment management characteristics of the Funds and will not use the information to facilitate or assist in any investment program, and (3) the recipient will not provide access to third parties to this information. Rating and ranking organizations, the Funds’ service providers and pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants are subject to these restrictions.

In addition, the Funds’ service providers, such as the custodian and the transfer agent, may receive portfolio holdings information in connection with their services to the Funds. In no event shall the Adviser, its affiliates or employees, or the Funds receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings.

The furnishing of non-public portfolio holdings information to any third party (other than authorized governmental and regulatory personnel) requires the approval of the CCO. The CCO or a designated officer of the Trust will approve the furnishing of non-public portfolio holdings to a third party only if they consider the furnishing of such information to be in the best interest of a Fund and its shareholders. No consideration may be received by the Funds, the Adviser, any affiliate of the Adviser or their employees in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. The Board receives and reviews annually a list of the persons who receive non-public portfolio holdings information and the purpose for which it is furnished.

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION

(See also “DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” in the Prospectus)

The following is a summary discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder of acquiring, holding and disposing of shares of a Fund. This discussion does not address the special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as tax-exempt entities, foreign investors, insurance companies and financial institutions. This discussion addresses only federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets and does not address all of the federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances. In addition, the discussion does not address any state, local or foreign tax consequences, and it does not address any U.S. federal tax consequences other than federal income tax consequences. The discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all federal income tax concerns affecting a Fund and its shareholders, and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in a Fund, including the applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them and the effect of possible changes in tax laws.

Each Fund intends to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. Such qualification does not involve supervision of

management or investment practices or policies by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). In order to qualify as a RIC, each Fund must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to proceeds from securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies and other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies and net income from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code); and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of each Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of each Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) of (i) any one issuer; (ii) any two or more issuers of which 20% or more of the voting stock is held by the Fund and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or similar or related trades or businesses or (iii) any one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code); and (c) distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income (as defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) for such taxable year in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying any federal income tax. By so qualifying, a Fund is not subject to federal income tax if it timely distributes its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains. A 4% nondeductible excise tax will be imposed on a Fund to the extent it does not meet certain distribution requirements by the end of each calendar year. Each Fund anticipates meeting such distribution requirements.

If, in any taxable year, a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC under the Code or fails to meet the distribution requirement, it will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders will not be deductible by a Fund in computing its taxable income. In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify, a Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from a Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as dividend income. However, such dividends will be eligible (i) to be treated if paid by 2013 as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. Moreover, if a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a RIC. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, a Fund may be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if a Fund had been liquidated) if it qualifies as a RIC in a subsequent year.

Dividends and other distributions by a Fund are generally treated under the Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, any dividend or distribution declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and to have been paid by a Fund not later than such December 31, provided such dividend is actually paid by a Fund during January of the following calendar year.

Each Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income, and any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers). However, if a Fund retains for investment an amount equal to all or a portion of its net long-term capital gains in excess of its net short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers), it will be subject to a corporate tax (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. In that event, a Fund will designate such retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (a) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount, (b) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the 35% tax paid by a Fund on the undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent their credits exceed their liabilities, if any, and (c) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in

their shares by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income. Organizations or persons not subject to federal income tax on such capital gains will be entitled to a refund of their pro rata share of such taxes paid by a Fund upon timely filing of appropriate returns or claims for refund.

In certain situations, a Fund may, for a taxable year, defer all or a portion of its capital losses and currency losses realized after October and ordinary losses incurred after December until the next taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, which will defer the recognition of such realized losses. Such deferrals and other rules regarding gains and losses realized after October (or December) may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.

Dividends paid by each Fund from investment company taxable income generally will be taxed to the shareholders as ordinary income or, as discussed below, qualified dividend income, as applicable. Investment company taxable income includes net investment income and net realized short-term gains (if any). A portion of these distributions may be treated as qualified dividend income (eligible for the reduced maximum rate to individuals and other non- corporate taxpayers of 15% (0% for individuals in lower tax brackets)) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations. We expect that some (or all) of the Dividend Fund’s ordinary income distributions will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income subject to the reduced tax rates. Distributions from net capital gain (if any) that are reported as capital gains dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains without regard to length of time the shareholder held shares of the Fund. Long-term capital gains also will be taxed at up to a maximum rate of 15% to individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers. The maximum 15% tax rate on qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains for such taxpayers will cease to apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. Any dividends received by a Fund from domestic corporations will constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross investment income. This portion of the dividends paid by a Fund may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for shareholders that are U.S. corporations. Substitute payments received in lieu of dividends for securities lent out will not constitute qualified dividend income nor qualify for the dividends received deduction. Shareholders will be informed of the amounts of dividends which so qualify.

Distributions will be taxable as described above to shareholders (who are not exempt from tax), whether made in shares or in cash. Shareholders that receive distributions in the form of additional shares will generally be treated as having received a taxable distribution and will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset value of a share of a Fund on the reinvestment date.

Each Fund will inform shareholders of the amount of their ordinary income dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, at the time they are paid and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes, including what portion of the distributions will be qualified dividend income, shortly after the close of each calendar year.

If an individual receives a regular dividend qualifying for the long-term capital gains rates and such dividend constitutes an “extraordinary dividend,” and the individual subsequently recognizes a loss on the sale or exchange of stock in respect of which the extraordinary dividend was paid, then the loss will be long-term capital loss to the extent of such extraordinary dividend. An “extraordinary dividend” on common stock for this purpose is generally a dividend (i) in an amount greater than or equal to 10% of the taxpayer’s tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex-dividend dates within an 85-day period or (ii) in an amount greater than 20% of the taxpayer’s tax basis (or trading value) in a share of stock, aggregating dividends with ex- dividend dates within a 365-day period.

Distributions by each Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of that Fund’s shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder’s cost basis, such distribution nevertheless would be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain as described above to shareholders (who are not exempt from tax), even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a return of capital. In particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a

distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will then receive what is in effect a return of capital upon the distribution which will nevertheless be taxable to shareholders subject to taxes.

Upon a sale or exchange of its shares, a shareholder will realize a taxable gain or loss depending on its basis in the shares. Such gain or loss will be treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the investor’s hands and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Generally, any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent shares disposed of are replaced within a period of sixty-one days beginning thirty days before and ending thirty days after the shares are disposed of.

All distributions, whether received in shares or cash, must be reported by each shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Each shareholder should consult his or her own tax adviser to determine the state and local tax implications of a Fund’s distributions.

Shareholders who fail to furnish their taxpayer identification numbers to a Fund and to certify as to its correctness and certain other shareholders may be subject to a federal income tax backup withholding requirement on dividends, distributions of capital gains and redemption proceeds paid to them by a Fund. The backup withholding rate is 28% through 2012 under current law. Legislation may be enacted which provides for a different rate. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such dividends or capital gain distributions to these shareholders, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, and any redemption proceeds will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Investors may wish to consult their own tax advisers about the applicability of the backup withholding provisions. The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law as applicable to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens and residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates). It does not reflect the special tax consequences to certain taxpayers (e.g., banks, insurance companies, tax exempt organizations and foreign persons).

Beginning in 2013, taxable distributions and redemptions will be subject to a 3.8% federal Medicare contribution tax on “net investment income” for individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly).

Shareholders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific questions relating to federal, state and local tax consequences of investing in shares of a Fund.

Based upon the number of shareholders of the Balance Fund, the Balance Fund could be considered to be a personal holding company (a “PHC”) under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). A company is considered a PHC if: (1) at least 60% of its income is derived from certain types of passive income (e.g., interest, dividends, rents, and royalties) and (2) at any time during the last half of the taxable year more than 50% in value of its outstanding stock is owned directly, or indirectly, by or for not more than 5 individuals (certain qualified pension trusts and tax-exempt entities are counted as individuals for this purpose). A company satisfying this test is taxed on its undistributed personal holding company income (“UPHCI”) at 15% (for tax years beginning before January 1, 2013). UPHCI is computed by making certain adjustments to taxable income, including a downward adjustment for distributions made to shareholders during the taxable year. The tax on UPHCI is in addition to any other tax. Under the Code, a regulated investment company that is also a PHC will also be taxed on any undistributed investment company taxable income at the highest corporate rate under the Code. The Fund intends to distribute sufficient taxable income to its shareholders in any applicable taxable period in which it is treated as a PHC to reduce or eliminate its UPHCI.

Special Tax Considerations

The Funds maintain accounts and calculate income in U.S. dollars. In general, a Fund’s transactions in foreign currency denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts, and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in value of a foreign currency.

Each Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on foreign currencies) are subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses of a Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to a Fund and defer Fund losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) require each Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) and (b) may cause each Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding federal income and excise taxes. Each Fund will monitor its transactions, make appropriate tax elections and make appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency, forward contract, option, futures contract or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules. Each Fund anticipates that its hedging activities will not adversely affect its RIC status.

Each Fund’s investment in so-called “section 1256 contracts,” such as regulated futures contracts, most foreign currency forward contracts traded in the interbank market and options on most stock indices, are subject to special tax rules. All section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of its taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized gain or loss on those positions will be included in Each Fund’s income as if each position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or loss realized by a Fund from positions in section 1256 contracts closed during the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets and were not part of a “hedging transaction” nor part of a “straddle,” 60% of the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually held by the Fund.

In general, gain or loss on a short sale is recognized when a Fund closes the sale by delivering the borrowed property to the lender, not when the borrowed property is sold. Gain or loss from a short sale is generally considered as capital gain or loss to the extent that the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in the Fund’s hands. Except with respect to certain situations where the property used by a Fund to close a short sale has a long- term holding period on the date of the short sale, special rules would generally treat the gains on short sales as short-term capital gains. These rules may also terminate the running of the holding period of “substantially identical property” held by a Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short sale will be treated as a long-term capital loss if, on the date of the short sale, “substantially identical property” has been held by a Fund for more than one year. In general, a Fund will not be permitted to deduct payments made to reimburse the lender of securities for dividends paid on borrowed stock if the short sale is closed on or before the 45th day after the short sale is entered into.

Income received by a Fund from sources within various foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax and withholding. If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of the stock or securities of foreign corporations, that Fund may elect to “pass through” to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund. Pursuant to such election, shareholders would be required: (i) to treat a proportionate share of dividends paid by a Fund which represent foreign source income received by the Fund plus the foreign taxes paid by the Fund as foreign source income; and (ii) either to deduct their pro-rata share of foreign taxes in computing their taxable income, or to use it as a foreign tax credit against federal income taxes (but not both). No deduction for foreign taxes could be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions.

Each Fund, if eligible under the above assets test in a given year, expects to meet for each taxable year the requirements of the Code to “pass through” to its shareholders foreign income taxes paid if it is determined by the Adviser to be beneficial to do so, although there can be no assurance that a Fund

will in a given year choose to or be able to pass through foreign income taxes paid. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of each taxable year of a Fund whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will “pass through” for that year, and, if so, the amount of each shareholder’s pro-rata share (by country) of (i) the foreign taxes paid and (ii) a Fund’s gross income from foreign sources. Shareholders who are not liable for federal income taxes, such as retirement plans qualified under section 401 of the Code, generally will not be affected by any such “pass through” of foreign tax credits.

Under section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time a Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time a Fund actually collects such income or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. In general, gains (and losses) realized on debt instruments will be treated as section 988 gain (or loss) to the extent attributable to changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which the instruments are denominated. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency, foreign currency forward contracts and certain foreign currency options or futures contracts, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss unless a Fund were to elect otherwise.

If a Fund holds (directly or indirectly) one or more “tax credit bonds” (defined below) on one or more specified dates during a Fund’s taxable year, and a Fund satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, a Fund may elect for federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to a Fund for that year with respect to such bonds. A tax credit bond is defined in the Code as a “qualified tax credit bond” (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, or a qualified zone academy bond, each of which must meet certain requirements specified in the Code), a “Build America Bond” or certain other specified bonds. If a Fund were to make an election, a shareholder of the Fund would be required to include in income and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to a proportionate share of such credits. Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed.

Each Fund may invest in equity interests of certain entities that may qualify as “passive foreign investment companies.” Generally, the income of such companies may become taxable to a Fund prior to the receipt of distributions, or, alternatively, income taxes and interest charges may be imposed on a Fund on “excess distributions” received by a Fund or on gain from the disposition of such investments by a Fund. The Code generally allows the Funds to elect to mark-to-market and recognize gains on such investments at its taxable year-end. Each Fund will take steps to minimize income taxes and interest charges arising from such investments. Application of these rules may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding federal income and excise taxes. Each Fund will monitor its investments in equity interests in “passive foreign investment companies” to ensure its ability to comply with these distribution requirements.

If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to a Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many

cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not exempted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Taxation of Foreign Shareholders

Dividends paid by a Fund to foreign shareholders are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty to the extent derived from investment income and short-term capital gains. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a foreign shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a foreign shareholder who provides a Form W-

8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the foreign shareholder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the foreign shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A foreign corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate). A foreign shareholder who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.

In general, federal withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a foreign shareholder in respect of any distributions of net long- term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, exempt-interest dividends, or upon the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, properly-reported dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Fund’s U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of a Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital gain over the Fund’s long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its circumstances, a Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will need to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund reports the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2012, distributions that a Fund reports as “short-term capital gain dividends” or “long-term capital gain dividends” will not be treated as such to a recipient foreign shareholder if the distribution is attributable to gain received from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation and a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property exceeded certain levels. Instead, if the foreign shareholder has not owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of distribution, such distributions will be subject to 30% withholding by a Fund and will be treated as ordinary dividends to the foreign shareholder; if the foreign shareholder owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution, such distribution will be treated as real property gain subject to 35% withholding tax and could subject the foreign shareholder to U.S. filing requirements. Additionally, if a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels, a foreign shareholder realizing gains upon redemption from a Fund on or before December 31, 2011 could be subject to the 35% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless more than 50% of a Fund’s shares were owned by U.S. persons at such time or unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of a Fund’s outstanding shares throughout either such person’s holding period for the redeemed shares or, if shorter, the previous five years.

In addition, the same rules apply with respect to distributions to a foreign shareholder from a Fund and redemptions of a foreign shareholder’s interest in a Fund attributable to a REIT’s distribution to a Fund of gain from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation, if a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels. The rule with respect to distributions and redemptions attributable to a REIT’s distribution to the Fund will not expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.

The rules laid out in the previous two paragraphs, other than the withholding rules, will apply notwithstanding the Fund’s participation in a wash sale transaction or its payment of a substitute dividend.

A 30% withholding tax will be imposed on dividends and redemption proceeds paid after December 31, 2012, to (i) foreign financial institutions including non-U.S. investment funds unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and

indirect U.S. owners. To avoid withholding, a foreign financial institution will need to enter into agreements with the IRS regarding providing the IRS information including the name, address and taxpayer identification number of direct and indirect U.S. account holders, to comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts, to report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained, to agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information, and to determine certain other information as to their account holders. Other foreign entities will need to provide the name, address, and TIN of each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply.

The forgoing is only a general discussion of some of the special tax considerations that may apply to a Fund. Shareholders in a Fund are advised to consult with their own tax advisers with respect to the tax considerations, including federal, state and local and foreign tax considerations.

NET ASSET VALUE

The following information supplements that set forth in the Funds’ Prospectus in the Section titled “MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS - How the Funds Value Their Shares.”

The net asset value of a Fund’s shares will fluctuate and is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) each business day.

The net asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the securities held by a 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 that Fund outstanding at such time, as shown below:

Net Assets	=	Net Asset Value per share
Shares Outstanding

Equity securities that are traded on a national securities exchange, except those listed on the NASDAQ Global Market®, NASDAQ Global Select Market® and the NASDAQ Capital Market® exchanges (collectively, “NASDAQ”), are valued at the last reported sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If, on a particular day, an exchange-traded or NASDAQ security does not trade, then the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices will be used.

Each security traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System, is valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), as determined by NASDAQ, or lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sale price as of the time of valuation by NASDAQ, or lacking any current reported sale on NASDAQ at the time of valuation, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations.

All equity securities that are not traded on a listed exchange are valued at the last sale price in the over-the-counter market. If a non-exchange traded security does not trade on a particular day, then the mean between the last quoted closing bid and asked price will be used.

Except for short-term debt instruments, debt securities are valued by using the closing bid as provided by a Pricing Service. If the closing bid is not readily available, the Pricing Service may provide a price determined by a matrix pricing method.

Independent third-party pricing services or sources (each, a “Pricing Service”) will provide the pricing information used to calculate the NAV of each Fund. Should Pricing Service pricing information not be readily available, the “fair value” of a security or other asset of Fund will be determined utilizing Board approved guidelines.

Fixed income debt instruments, such as commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances and U.S. Treasury Bills, having a maturity of less than sixty (60) days are valued at amortized cost, unless the Adviser believes that another valuation is more appropriate. Any discount or premium is accreted or amortized on a straight-line basis until maturity.

Securities that are principally traded in a foreign market are valued at the last current sale price at the time of valuation or lacking any current or reported sale, at the time of valuation, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations as of the close of the appropriate exchange or other designated time. Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets is normally completed at various times before the close of business on each day on which the NYSE is open. Trading of these securities may not take place on every NYSE business day. In addition, trading may take place in various foreign markets on Saturdays or on other days when the NYSE is not open and on which the Fund’s net asset value is not calculated. As stated above, if market prices are not readily available or are not reflective of the fair value of the security, the security will be priced at a fair value.

Prices of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the closing rates of exchange at period end. Amounts related to the purchase and sale of foreign securities and investment income are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

In absence of a price or the occurrence of events that occur after a foreign exchange closes that affect the value of certain holdings, the “fair value” shall be determined utilizing Board approved guidelines.

Examples of how the Funds calculated their net asset value per share as of October 31, 2010 is as follows.

Balance Fund – Institutional Class	$62,933,571	=	$10.16
	6,194,402

Dividend Fund– Institutional Class	$628,843,844	=	$4.48
	140,396,439

Financial Services Fund– Institutional Class	$7,717,805	=	$7.69
	1,003,499

Innovators Fund– Institutional Class	$11,846,969	=	$10.14
	1,168,334
Transformations Fund– Institutional Class	$5,294,200	=	$10.30
	513,795
Accelerating Dividend Fund– Institutional Class	$2,393,439	=	$12.80
	186,955

Balance Fund – Class A Shares	$[ ]	=	$[ ]
	[ ]
Dividend Fund– Class A Shares	$[ ]	=	$[ ]
	[ ]
Financial Services Fund– Class A Shares	$[ ]	=	$[ ]
	[ ]

Innovators Fund– Class A Shares	$[ ]	=	$[ ]
	[ ]
Transformations Fund– Class A Shares	$[ ]	=	$[ ]
	[ ]
Accelerating Dividend Fund– Class A Shares	$[ ]	=	$[ ]
	[ ]

SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS

Purchasing Shares

As described under “How to Buy Shares” in the Prospectus, Institutional Class shares of the Funds are offered for sale, without a sales charge, at the net asset value per share next computed after receipt of a purchase order by the Distributor of the Funds’ shares.

Net asset value is computed once daily for each Fund, on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. See “Net Asset Value.”

Class A shares are offered for sale at the offering price (net asset value plus any initial sales charge) unless you qualify for waiver as described below. You pay a lower sales charge as the size of your investment increases. You do not pay a sales charge when you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions paid by a Fund. A portion or all of the sales charge may be retained by the Distributor or paid to your broker, dealer or other financial intermediary as a concession. The current sales charge rates and concessions paid are shown in the table below.

Amount Invested	% of Offering	% of Net	Dealer
	Price	Amount Invested	Concession

Less than $25,000	5.50%	5.82%	5.00%
$25,000 but less than $50,000	5.00%	5.26%	4.50%
$50,000 but less than $100,000	4.50%	4.71%	4.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000	3.75%	3.90%	3.25%
$250,000 but less than $500,000	2.75%	2.83%	2.25%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000	2.25%	2.30%	1.75%
$1,000,000 and over	None*	None*	1.00%*

Since the Class A Shares has yet to be offered, as of [December 30, 2011], the Distributor of the Funds has not received any sales charges from investors on sales of the Funds’ Class A Shares.

Sales Charge Reduction or Waiver

There are several ways you can combine multiple purchases of Class A Shares to reduce or eliminate the sales charge. In order to take advantage of reductions in sales charges that may be available to you when you purchase fund shares in an amount of $25,000 or more, you must inform your financial intermediary if you are eligible for a right of accumulation or a letter of intent. Failure to notify your financial intermediary may result in not receiving the sales charge reduction or elimination to which you are otherwise entitled. Certain records, such as account statements, may be necessary in order to verify your eligibility to reduce or eliminate the sales charge. If you hold fund shares in accounts at two or more financial intermediaries, please contact your financial intermediaries to determine which shares may be combined. For more information, please contact your financial intermediary.

Additionally, the sales charge may be waived for the following persons or reasons:

Employees of the Adviser or its affiliates and their immediate family

Current and former Trustees of funds advised by the Adviser

The Adviser or its affiliates

An agent or broker of a dealer that has entered into a selling agreement with the Fund’s distributor for agent or broker’s own account or an account of a relative of any such person, or an account for the benefit of any such person

Investors in employee retirement, stock, bonus, pension or profit sharing plans

Investment advisory clients of the Adviser or its affiliates

Registered Investment Advisers

Broker/Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers with clients participating in comprehensive fee programs

Certain financial intermediaries that have entered into contractual agreements with the Funds’ distributor

Shares acquired when dividends or capital gains are reinvested in the Funds

Shares offered to any other investment company to effect the combination of such company with the Funds by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise

These waivers may be discontinued at any time without notice.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (“CDSC”)

That CDSC will be calculated on the lesser of the net asset value of the redeemed share or the aggregate net asset value of the redeemed share at the time of redemption.

You do not pay a CDSC when you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions paid by a Fund.

Right of Accumulation — The right of accumulation allows you to combine the current value of your holdings in Class A Shares of the Fund, based on the current offer price, with other qualifying shares that are owned by you, your spouse, your children under the age of 21, or a trustee or fiduciary of a single trust estate or single fiduciary account and with the dollar amount of your next purchase of Class A Shares, including any applicable sales charge, for purposes of determining whether or which level of sales charge applies. Qualifying shares may include shares held in accounts held at a financial intermediary. Class A Shares of the Fund in accounts held through 401(k) plans and similar multi-participant retirement plans, or those accounts which cannot be linked using tax identification numbers, social security numbers or broker identification numbers are not qualifying shares. The right of accumulation may be amended or terminated at any time.

Letter of Intent — If you plan to make an aggregate investment of $25,000 or more over a 13-month period, you may take advantage of breakpoints in sales charges for aggregate purchases of Class A Shares by entering into a non-binding letter of intent. The initial investment must meet the minimum initial investment requirement. Generally, purchases of Class A Shares of the Fund that are purchased during the 13-month period by you, your spouse, your children under the age of 21, or a trustee or fiduciary of a single trust estate or single fiduciary account are eligible for inclusion under the letter of intent. Qualifying shares may include shares held in accounts held at a financial intermediary. Class A Shares of the Fund in accounts held through 401(k) plans and similar multi-participant retirement plans, or those accounts which cannot be linked using tax identification numbers, social security numbers or broker identification numbers are not qualifying shares. During the term of the letter of intent, the Fund will hold shares in an escrow account for payment of the higher sales load if the breakpoint amount is not purchased within 13 months. If you do not purchase the breakpoint amount of Class A Shares within the 13-month period, the Fund will redeem the applicable sales charge on the Class A Shares from the shares held in escrow. When a shareholder elects to participate in a letter of intent, the Class A Shares purchased within a ninety day period prior to that election will be included in satisfying the aggregate investment requirement. The letter of intent may be amended or terminated at any time. You may cancel a letter of intent by notifying your financial intermediary in writing. Complete liquidation of purchases made under a letter of intent prior to meeting the breakpoint investment amount, moreover, will result in the cancellation of the letter.

Reinstatement Privilege – The reinstatement privilege permits shareholders to purchase shares without a sales charge within 120 days of redeeming shares of an equal or greater amount.

Redeeming Shares

Redemption proceeds are normally paid as described in the Prospectus. However, the payment of redemption proceeds by the Funds may be postponed for more than seven days or the right of redemption suspended at times (a) when the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on the NYSE is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by a Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for a Fund to determine fairly the value of its net assets, (d) during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits for the protection of shareholders. Applicable rules and regulations of the SEC will govern as to whether the conditions described in (b) or (c) exist, or (e) under certain circumstances when there has been a determination to liquidate the Fund, pursuant to SEC rule or order. In addition, in the event that the Board of Trustees determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of remaining shareholders of a Fund to pay any redemption or redemptions in cash, a redemption payment by a Fund may be made in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities, subject to applicable rules of the SEC. Any securities distributed in-kind will be readily marketable and will be valued, for purposes of the redemption, in the same manner as such securities are normally valued in computing net asset value per share. In the unlikely event that shares are redeemed in-kind, the redeeming shareholder would incur transaction costs in converting the distributed securities to cash. The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-l under the 1940 Act and is therefore obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of a Fund during any 90 day period for any one shareholder.

Exchange Privilege

As described under “Exchange Privilege” in the Funds’ Prospectus, shareholders of each Fund may exchange their shares of that Fund for shares of the other Fund, based upon the relative net asset values per share of the Funds at the time the exchange is effected.

You may only exchange Class A Shares for Class A Shares and Institutional Class shares for Institutional Class shares. The Funds may modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
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 Funds’ Distributor and transfer agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Funds 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 Trust 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 Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

Redemption Fees

The Funds are designed for long-term investors willing to accept the risks associated with a long-term investment. The Funds are not designed for short-term traders.

The Funds assess a 1.00% fee on the redemption of each Fund’s shares held for less than 60 days. For example, a purchase with a trade date of January 5,

2012 will not be assessed a redemption fee if redeemed on or after March 6, 2012 or the following business day if this date were to fall on a weekend or holiday. Redemption fees will be paid to the Funds to help offset transaction costs. The Funds reserve the right to waive the redemption fee, subject to their sole discretion in instances they deem not to be disadvantageous to the Funds.

The Funds will use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method to determine the 60-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 two months, 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 Funds for two months, not including, the date of purchase.

redemption fee will also not be assessed on exchanges except in instances where you are exchanging shares of a Fund with a redemption fee into a Fund which does not currently have a redemption fee. If you exchange from a Fund without a redemption fee into a Fund with a redemption fee, the fee liability begins on the trade date of the exchange not the original share purchase date.

Additional Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions

The Funds are intended for long-term investors. The Funds discourage excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm fund performance. While not specifically unlawful, the practice utilized by short-term traders to time their investments and redemptions of Fund shares with certain market-driven events can create substantial cash flows. These cash flows can be disruptive to the portfolio manager’s attempts to achieve a Fund’s objectives. Further, frequent short-term trading of Fund shares drives up the Funds’ transaction costs to the detriment of the remaining shareholders.

Trading Practices. Currently, the Funds reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to identify trading practices as abusive. The Funds may deem the sale of all or a substantial portion of a shareholder’s purchase of fund shares to be abusive. In addition, the Funds reserve the right to accept purchases and exchanges if they believe that such transactions would not be inconsistent with the best interests of Fund shareholders or this policy.

The Funds monitor selected trades in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities. If, as a result of this monitoring, the Funds believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, they may, in their discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s accounts other than exchanges into a money market fund. In making such judgments, the Funds seek to act in a manner that they believe is consistent with the best interests of shareholders.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions the Funds handle, there can be no assurance that the Funds’ efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive. In addition, the Funds’ ability to monitor trades that are placed by individual shareholders within group, or omnibus, accounts maintained by financial intermediaries is severely limited because the Funds do not have simultaneous access to the underlying shareholder account information. In this regard, in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds have entered into Information Sharing Agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which these financial intermediaries are required to provide to the Funds, at each Fund’s request, certain customer and identity trading information relating to its customers investing in a Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts. The Funds will use this information to attempt to identify abusive trading practices. Financial intermediaries are contractually required to follow any instructions from the Funds to restrict or prohibit future purchases from customers that are found to have engaged in abusive trading in violation of a Fund’s policies. However, the Funds cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to them from financial intermediaries and cannot ensure that they will always be able to detect abusive trading practices that occur through non-disclosed and omnibus accounts. As a consequence, a Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices in omnibus accounts may be limited.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All shareholder inquiries may be directed to the shareholder’s broker, or may be directed to a Fund at the address or telephone number shown on the front cover of this SAI. This SAI does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement filed by the Trust with the SEC under the 1933 Act. Copies of the Registration Statement may be obtained at a reasonable charge from the SEC or may be examined, without charge, at the offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C.

From time to time, a Fund may quote its performance in advertising and other types of literature as compared to the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Russell 2000 Index, Europe, Australia and Far East index, Morgan Stanley Capital International Equity Emerging Markets Free Index or any other commonly quoted index of common stock prices, which are unmanaged indices of selected common stock prices. Each Fund’s performance may also be compared to those of other mutual funds having similar objectives. This comparative performance would be expressed as a ranking prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or similar independent services monitoring mutual fund performance. Each Fund’s performance will be calculated by assuming, to the extent applicable, reinvestment of all capital gains distributions and income dividends paid. Any such comparisons may be useful to investors who wish to compare a Fund’s past performance with that of its competitors. Of course, past performance cannot be a guarantee of future results.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Each of the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 have been audited [ ], independent registered public accounting firm. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and the financial statements included in the Annual Report of the Funds for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, and the Funds’ financial statements for the six-month period ended April 30, 2011 (unaudited) are incorporated herein by reference. The financial statements for the six-month period ended April 30, 2011, include all adjustments that the Adviser considers necessary for a fair presentation of such information. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF
BOND RATINGS

SHORT-TERM RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Issue Credit Rating Definitions

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about 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 reflects Standard & Poor’s view of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, 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.

SPUR (Standard & Poor’s Underlying Rating)

This is a rating of a stand-alone capacity of an issue to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer/obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. Standard & Poor’s maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.

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+’).

The ratings and other credit related opinions of Standard & Poor’s and its affiliates are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any investment decisions. Standard & Poor’s assumes no obligation to update any information following publication. Users of ratings and credit related opinions should not rely on them in making any investment decision.

Standard &Poor’s opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC does not act as a fiduciary or

an investment advisor. While Standard & Poor’s has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. Ratings and credit related opinions may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time.

Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)

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.

Ratings qualified with ‘L’ apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.

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.

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 therefore may be 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 Credit Rating Definitions

Purpose

The system of rating securities was originated by John Moody in 1909. The purpose of Moody’s ratings is to provide investors with a simple system of gradation by which relative creditworthiness of securities may be noted.

Rating Symbols

Gradations of creditworthiness are indicated by rating symbols, with each symbol representing a group in which the credit characteristics are broadly the same. There are nine symbols as shown below, from that used to designate least credit risk to that denoting greatest credit risk:

Aaa Aa A Baa Ba B Caa Ca C

Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa.

Absence of a Rating

Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been withdrawn, it may be for reasons unrelated to the creditworthiness of the issue.

Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following:

1. An application was not received or accepted.

2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities or entities that are not rated as a matter of policy.

3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.

4. The issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not published in Moody’s publications.

Withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise, the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons.

Changes in Rating

The credit quality of most issuers and their obligations is not fixed and steady over a period of time, but tends to undergo change. For this reason changes in ratings occur so as to reflect variations in the intrinsic relative position of issuers and their obligations.

A change in rating may thus occur at any time in the case of an individual issue. Such rating change should serve notice that Moody’s observes some alteration in creditworthiness, or that the previous rating did not fully reflect the quality of the bond as now seen. While because of their very nature, changes are to be expected more frequently among bonds of lower ratings than among bonds of higher ratings. Nevertheless, the user of bond ratings should keep close and constant check on all ratings — both high and low — to be able to note promptly any signs of change in status that may occur.

Limitations to Uses of Ratings*

Obligations carrying the same rating are not claimed to be of absolutely equal credit quality. In a broad sense, they are alike in position, but since there are a limited number of rating classes used in grading thousands of bonds, the symbols cannot reflect the same shadings of risk which actually exist.

As ratings are designed exclusively for the purpose of grading obligations according to their credit quality, they should not be used alone as a basis for investment operations. For example, they have no value in forecasting the direction of future trends of market price. Market price movements in bonds are influenced not only by the credit quality of individual issues but also by changes in money rates and general economic trends, as well as by the length of maturity, etc. During its life even the highest rated bond may have wide price movements, while its high rating status remains unchanged.

The matter of market price has no bearing whatsoever on the determination of ratings, which are not to be construed as recommendations with respect to “attractiveness”. The attractiveness of a given bond may depend on its yield, its maturity date or other factors for which the investor may search, as well as on its credit quality, the only characteristic to which the rating refers.

Since ratings involve judgments about the future, on the one hand, and since they are used by investors as a means of protection, on the other, the effort is

made when assigning ratings to look at “worst” possibilities in the “visible” future, rather than solely at the past record and the status of the present. Therefore, investors using the rating should not expect to find in them a reflection of statistical factors alone, since they are an appraisal of long-term risks, including the recognition of many non-statistical factors.

Though ratings may be used by the banking authorities to classify bonds in their bank examination procedure, Moody’s ratings are not made with these bank regulations in mind. Moody’s Investors Service’s own judgment as to the desirability or non-desirability of a bond for bank investment purposes is not indicated by Moody’s ratings.

Moody’s ratings represent the opinion of Moody’s Investors Service as to the relative creditworthiness of securities. As such, they should be used in conjunction with the descriptions and statistics appearing in Moody’s publications. Reference should be made to these statements for information regarding the issuer. Moody’s ratings are not commercial credit ratings. In no case is default or receivership to be imputed unless expressly stated.

*As set forth more fully on the copyright, credit ratings are, and must be construed solely as, statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities. Each rating or other opinion must be weighed solely as one factor in any investment decision made by or on behalf of any user of the information, and each such user must accordingly make its own study and evaluation of each security and of each issuer and guarantor of, and each provider of credit support for, each security that it may consider purchasing, selling or holding.

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.

P-3

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

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.

Fitch’s National Credit Ratings

For those countries in which foreign and local currency sovereign ratings are below ‘AAA’, and where there is demand for such ratings, Fitch Ratings will provide National Ratings. It is important to note that each National Rating scale is unique and is defined to serve the needs of the local market in question.

The National Rating scale provides a relative measure of creditworthiness for rated entities only within the country concerned. Under this rating scale, a

‘AAA’ Long-Term National Rating will be assigned to the lowest relative risk within that country, which, in most but not all cases, will be the sovereign state.

The National Rating scale merely ranks the degree of perceived risk relative to the lowest default risk in that same country. Like local currency ratings, National Ratings exclude the effects of sovereign and transfer risk and exclude the possibility that investors may be unable to repatriate any due interest and principal repayments. It is not related to the rating scale of any other national market. Comparisons between different national scales or between an individual national scale and the international rating scale are therefore inappropriate and potentially misleading. Consequently they are identified by the addition of a special identifier for the country concerned, such as ‘AAA(arg)’ for National Ratings in Argentina.

In certain countries, regulators have established credit rating scales, to be used within their domestic markets, using specific nomenclature. In these countries, the agency’s National Short-Term Rating definitions for ‘F1+(xxx)’, ‘F1(xxx)’, ‘F2(xxx)’ and ‘F3(xxx)’ may be substituted by the regulatory scales, e.g.

‘A1+’, ‘A1’, ‘A2’ and ‘A3’. The below definitions thus serve as a template, but users should consult the individual scales for each country listed on the agency’s web-site to determine if any additional or alternative category definitions apply.

National Short-Term Credit Ratings

F1(xxx)

Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Under the agency’s National Rating scale, this rating is assigned to the lowest default risk relative to others in the same country. Where the liquidity profile is particularly strong, a “+” is added to the assigned rating.

F2(xxx)

Indicates a good capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F3(xxx)

Indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations 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 obligations 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 obligations in the same country. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

D(xxx)

Indicates actual or imminent payment default.

Notes to Long-Term and Short-Term National Ratings:

The ISO country code suffix is placed in parentheses immediately following the rating letters to indicate the identity of the National market within which the rating applies. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used.

“+” or “-” may be appended to a National Rating to denote relative status within a major rating category. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA(xxx)’ Long- Term National Rating category, to categories below ‘CCC(xxx)’, or to Short-Term National Ratings other than ‘F1(xxx)’.

LONG-TERM RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor’s analysis of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which

cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, 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 similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

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.

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.

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.

Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

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.

Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

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.

Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

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 National Long-Term Credit Ratings

AAA(xxx)

‘AAA’ National Ratings denote the highest rating assigned by the agency in its National Rating scale for that country. This rating is assigned to issuers or obligations with the lowest expectation of default risk relative to all other issuers or obligations in the same country.

AA(xxx)

‘AA’ National Ratings denote expectations of very low default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. The default risk inherent differs only slightly from that of the country’s highest rated issuers or obligations.

A(xxx)

‘A’ National Ratings denote expectations of low default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment to a greater degree than is the case for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.

BBB(xxx)

‘BBB’ National Ratings denote a moderate default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions are more likely to affect the capacity for timely repayment than is the case for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.

BB(xxx)

‘BB’ National Ratings denote an elevated default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Within the context of the country, payment 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 elevated default risk relative to other issuers or obligations 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. For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for extremely high recoveries.

CCC(xxx)

‘CCC’ National Ratings denote that default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

CC(xxx)

‘CC’ National Ratings denote that default of some kind appears probable.

C(xxx)

‘C’ National Ratings denote that default is imminent.

D(xxx)

‘D’ National Ratings denote an issuer or instrument that is currently in default.

Notes to Long-Term and Short-Term National Ratings:

MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings Definitions

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s analysis will review the following considerations:

•	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.

See active and inactive qualifiers following Standard & Poor’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings beginning on page A-3.

Moody’s 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.

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.

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.

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.

APPENDIX B
FUTURES AND
OPTIONS

The following information should be read in conjunction with the discussions of options and futures elsewhere in this SAI.

OPTIONS ON
SECURITIES

An option on a security provides the purchaser, or “holder,” with the right, but not the obligation, to purchase, in the case of a “call” option, or sell, in the case of a “put” option, the security or securities underlying the option, for a fixed exercise price up to a stated expiration date. The holder pays a non- refundable purchase price for the option, known as the “premium.” The maximum amount of risk the purchaser of the option assumes is equal to the premium plus related transaction costs, although the entire amount may be lost. The risk of the seller, or “writer,” however, is potentially unlimited, unless the option is “covered,” which is generally accomplished through the writer’s ownership of the underlying security, in the case of a call option, or the writer’s segregation of an amount of cash or securities equal to the exercise price, in the case of a put option. If the writer’s obligation is not covered, it is subject to the risk of the full change in value of the underlying security from the time the option is written until exercise.

Upon exercise of the option, the holder is required to pay the purchase price of the underlying security, in the case of a call option, or to deliver the security in return for the purchase price, in the case of a put option. Conversely, the writer is required to deliver the security, in the case of a call option, or to purchase the security, in the case of a put option. Options on securities which have been purchased or written may be closed out prior to exercise or expiration by entering into an offsetting transaction on the exchange on which the initial position was established, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market.

Options on securities and options on indices of securities, discussed below, are traded on national securities exchanges, such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange and the NYSE, which are regulated by the SEC. The Options Clearing Corporation guarantees the performance of each party to an exchange-traded option, by in effect taking the opposite side of each such option. Options on securities and indices purchased and written by the Funds may be traded on NASDAQ rather than on an exchange. Any options not traded on an exchange must be effected with primary government securities dealers recognized by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

An option position in an exchange-traded option may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Fund will generally purchase or write 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 at any particular time. In such event it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in a particular option with the result that the Fund would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit. This would result in the Fund incurring brokerage commissions upon the disposition of underlying securities acquired through the exercise of a call option or upon the purchase of underlying securities upon the exercise of a put option. If the Fund, as a covered call option writer, is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, unless the Fund is required to deliver the stock pursuant to the assignment of an exercise notice, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires.

Reasons for the potential absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v)

the facilities of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options) in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in the class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange which had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at a particular time, render certain of the facilities of any of the clearing corporations inadequate and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customers’ orders. However, the Options Clearing Corporation, based on forecasts provided by the U.S. exchanges, believes that its facilities are adequate to handle the volume of reasonably anticipated options transactions, and such exchanges have advised such clearing corporation that they believe their facilities will also be adequate to handle reasonably anticipated volume.

Each Fund may also invest in so-called “synthetic” options or other options and derivative instruments written by broker-dealers, including options on baskets of specified securities. Synthetic options transactions involve the use of two financial instruments that, together, have the economic effect of an options transaction. The risks of synthetic options are generally similar to the risks of actual options, with the addition of increased market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty credit risk, legal risk and operations risk.

Options transactions may be effected on domestic and foreign securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. Options positions may be of the American or the European variety. An American style option may be exercised by the holder at any time after it is purchased until it expires. A European style option may be exercised only on its expiration date. When options are purchased over-the-counter, a Fund bears the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. In addition, the Fund may have difficulty closing out its positions in over-the-counter and synthetic options, which could result in losses to the Fund. Over-the-counter option positions and various derivative instruments may be illiquid and, in such cases are subject to the limitations on the purchase of illiquid securities by the Fund.

OPTIONS ON STOCK INDICES

In contrast to an option on a security, an option on a stock index provides the holder with the right to make or receive a cash settlement upon exercise of the option, rather than the right to purchase or sell a security. The amount of this settlement is equal to (i) the amount, if any, by which the fixed exercise price of the option exceeds (in the case of a call) or is below (in the case of a put) the closing value of the underlying index on the date of exercise, multiplied by (ii) a fixed “index multiplier.” The purchaser of the option receives this cash settlement amount if the closing level of the stock index on the day of exercise is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount if the option is exercised. As in the case of options on securities, the writer or holder may liquidate positions in stock index options prior to exercise or expiration by entering into closing transactions on the exchange on which such positions were established, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market.

The index underlying a stock index option may be a “broad-based” index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index or the NYSE Composite Index, the changes in value of which ordinarily will reflect movements in the stock market in general. In contrast, certain options may be based on narrower market indices, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100 Index, or on indices of securities of particular industry groups, such as those of oil and gas or technology companies. A stock index assigns relative values to the stock included in the index and the index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the stocks so included.

FUTURES CONTRACTS ON FIXED INCOME SECURITIES AND STOCK INDICES

A futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and sale of a specified type and amount of a financial instrument, or for the making and acceptance of a cash settlement, at a stated

time in the future, for a fixed price. By its terms, a futures contract provides for a specified settlement date on which, in the case of the majority of interest rate futures contracts, the fixed income securities underlying the contract are delivered by the seller and paid for by the purchaser, or on which, in the case of stock index futures contracts and certain interest rate futures contracts, the difference between the price at which the contract was entered into and the contract’s closing value is settled between the purchaser and seller in cash. Futures contracts differ from options in that they are bilateral agreements, with both the purchaser and the seller equally obligated to complete the transaction. In addition, futures contracts call for settlement only on the expiration date, and cannot be “exercised” at any other time during their term.

The purchase or sale of a futures contract also differs from the purchase or sale of a security or the purchase of an option in that no purchase price is paid or received. Instead, an amount of cash or cash equivalent, which varies but may be as low as 5% or less of the value of the contract, must be deposited with the broker as “initial margin.” Subsequent payments to and from the broker, referred to as “variation margin,” are made on a daily basis as the value of the index or instrument underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.”

A futures contract may be purchased or sold only on an exchange, known as a “contract market,” designated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the trading of such contract, and only through a registered futures commission merchant which is a member of such contract market. A commission must be paid on each completed purchase and sale transaction. The contract market clearing house guarantees the performance of each party to a futures contract by in effect taking the opposite side of such contract. At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, a trader may elect to close out its position by taking an opposite position on the contract market on which the position was entered into, subject to the availability of a secondary market, which will operate to terminate the initial position. At that time, a final determination of variation margin is made and any loss experienced by the trader is required to be paid to the contract market clearing house while any profit due to the trader must be delivered to it.

Interest rate futures contracts currently are traded on a variety of fixed income securities, including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds, Treasury Notes, Government National Mortgage Association modified pass-through mortgage-backed securities, U.S. Treasury Bills, bank certificates of deposit and commercial paper.

A stock index futures contract provides for the making and acceptance of a cash settlement in much the same manner as the settlement of an option on a stock index. The types of indices underlying stock index futures contracts are essentially the same as those underlying stock index options, as described above. The index assigns weighted values to the securities included in the index and its composition is changed periodically.

OPTIONS ON FUTURES
CONTRACTS

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to enter into a “long” position in the underlying futures contract, in the case of a call option, or a “short” position in the underlying futures contract in the case of a put option, at a fixed exercise price to a stated expiration date. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option, in the case of a call option, or a corresponding long position, in the case of a put option. In the event that an option is exercised, the parties will be subject to all the risks associated with the trading of futures contracts, such as payment of variation margin deposits. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract, unlike the holder, is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position.

A position in an option on a futures contract may be terminated by the purchaser or seller prior to expiration by effecting a closing purchase or sale transaction, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market, which is the purchase or sale of an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

An option, whether based on a futures contract, a stock index or a security, becomes worthless to the holder when it expires. Upon exercise of an option, the exchange or contract market clearing house assigns exercise notices on a random basis to those of its members which have written options of the same series and with the same expiration date. A brokerage firm receiving such notices then assigns them on a random basis to those of its customers which have written options of the same series and expiration date. A writer therefore has no control over whether an option will be exercised against it, nor over the time of such exercise.

ALPINE SERIES TRUST

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS

Number Description

(a)	Declaration of Trust – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 21, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

	(1) Certificate of Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated September 27, 2011 is filed herewith.

	(2) Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes dated September 27, 2011 is filed herewith.

(b)	By-Laws – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 21, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

(c)	Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders, incorporated by reference to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.

(d)

Investment Advisory Agreement, as amended, by and between Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC and the Registrant, on behalf of the Alpine Dynamic Balance Fund, Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund, Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund, Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund and the Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(e)	Distribution Agreements.

(1) Form of Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement filed on February 11, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

(2) Schedule A to Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement filed on August 29, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

(3) Amendment dated November 18, 2005 to the Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(4) Second Amendment dated June 1, 2006 to the Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001, as amended November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(5) Third Amendment dated December 6, 2007 to the Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001, as amended November 18, 2005 and June 1, 2006 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement filed on December 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.

(6) Fourth Amendment dated September 22, 2008 to the Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001, as amended November 18, 2005 and June 1, 2006 and December 6, 2007 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(7) Fifth Amendment dated October 28, 2008 to the Distribution Agreement dated June 18, 2001, as amended November 18, 2005, June 1, 2006, December 6, 2007 and September 22, 2008 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(8) Distribution Agreement with Quasar Distributors, LLC dated December 16, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(f)	Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – Not Applicable

(g)	Custody Agreement

(1) Custody Agreement dated November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(2) Amendment dated June 1, 2006 to the Custody Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2005 –previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(3) Amendment dated December 6, 2007 to the Custody Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended on June 1, 2006 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement filed on December 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.

(4) Amendment dated September 22, 2008 to the Custody Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended June 1, 2006 and December 6, 2007 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

	(5) Amendment dated October 28, 2008 to the Custody Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.
	(6) Master Custody and Fund Accounting Agreement dated November 18, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(h)	Other Material Contracts.

(1) Fund Administration Servicing Agreement

(a) Fund Administration Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Amendment dated June 1, 2006 to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Amendment dated December 6, 2007 to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended June 1, 2006 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement filed on December 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Amendment dated September 22, 2008 to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended June 1, 2006 and December 6, 2007 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(e) Amendment dated October 28, 2008 to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

	(f) Administration Agreement dated November 18, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.
	(g) Amendment No. 1 to the Administration Agreement – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(2) Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement

(a) Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Amendment dated June 1, 2006 to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Amendment dated December 6, 2007 to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended June 1, 2006 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement filed on December 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Amendment dated September 22, 2008 to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended June 1, 2006 and December 6, 2007 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(e) Amendment dated October 28, 2008 to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(3) Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement

(a) Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Amendment dated February 17, 2006 to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Second Amendment dated June 1, 2006 to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended February 17, 2006 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Third Amendment dated December 6, 2007 to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended February 17, 2006 and June 1, 2006 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement filed on December 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.

(e) Fourth Amendment dated September 22, 2008 to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended February 17, 2006, June 1, 2006 and December 6, 2007 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(f) Fifth Amendment dated October 28, 2008 to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated November 18, 2005, as amended February 17, 2006, June 1, 2006, December 6, 2007 and September 22, 2008 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(g) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated December 8, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(h) Amendment No. 1 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(4) Expense Limitation Agreement

(a) Expense Limitation Agreement, as amended, by and between Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC and Alpine Series Trust, on behalf of the Alpine Dynamic Balanced Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund and the Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement dated September 27, 2011, by and between Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC and Alpine Series Trust, on behalf of the Alpine Dynamic Balanced Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Dividend Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Financial Services Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Innovators Fund, the Alpine Dynamic Transformations Fund and the Alpine Accelerating Dividend Fund is filed herewith.

	(5)
		(a) Power of Attorney previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement filed on August 29, 2003 and incorporated by reference.

		(b) Power of Attorney previously filed as Exhibit to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement filed on March 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

	(c) Power of Attorney previously filed with the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 29, 2009 and is incorporated by reference.
	(d) Power of Attorney – dated December 16, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

	(6) Prospect Servicing Agreement

		(a) Prospect Servicing Agreement with U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC dated March 10, 2003 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

		(b) Amendment dated October 28, 2008 to the Prospect Servicing Agreement dated March 10, 2003 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.

	(7) Credit Agreement

		(a) Form of Special Custody and Pledge Agreement dated December 1, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

		(b) Form of New York Lending Agreement dated December 1, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(i)	Consent of Counsel – to be filed by amendment.

(j)	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – to be filed by amendment.

(k)	Omitted Financial Statements – Not Applicable

(l)	Initial Capital Agreements – Not Applicable

(m)	Distribution Plan of Class A Shares of the Alpine Series Trust is filed herewith.

(n)	Rule 18f-3 Plan of the Alpine Series Trust is filed herewith.

(o)

Reserved

(p)	Joint Codes of Ethics, as amended September 24, 2007 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.
(p) (1)	Joint Codes of Ethics, as amended December 16, 2010 – previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.

(p)(2)	Joint Code of Ethics, as amended September 7, 2011 is filed herewith.

ITEM 29. 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 30. INDEMNIFICATION

A Delaware statutory trust may provide in its governing instrument for indemnification of its officers and trustees from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Article III, Section 7 of Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides that if any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand relating to his or her being or having been a Shareholder, and not because of his or her acts or omissions, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the Trust against all loss and expense arising from such claim or demand.

Pursuant to Article VII, Section 2 of the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, Investment Manager or Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, and the Trust out of its assets shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever arising out of or related to each Trustee's performance of his duties as a Trustee of the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided that nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any Trustee from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of 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, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court or appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER

The information required by this item with respect to Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC is incorporated by reference to the Form ADV (File No. 801-55110) of Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC. The information required by this item with respect to Saxon Woods Advisors, LLC is incorporated by reference to the Form ADV (File No. 801-56918) of Saxon Woods Advisors, LLC.

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

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

Academy Fund Trust	Geneva Advisors Funds	Perkins Capital Management
ActivePassive Funds	Gerstein Fisher Funds	Permanent Portfolio Funds
Akre Funds	Glenmede Portfolios	Perritt Opportunities Funds
Al Frank Funds	Glenmede Fund, Inc.	Phocas Financial Funds
Allied Asset Advisors Funds	GoodHaven Funds	PIA Funds

Alpha Funds	Greenspring Fund	PineBridge Funds
Alpine Equity Trust	Guinness Atkinson Funds	Poplar Forest Partners Fund
Alpine Income Trust	Harding Loevner Funds	Portfolio 21
Alpine Series Trust	Hennessy Funds, Inc	Primecap Odyssey Funds
American Trust	Hennessy Mutual Funds, Inc.	Prospector Funds
Appleton Group	Hennessy SPARX Funds Trust	Purisima Funds
Artio Global Funds	Hodges Funds	Quaker Investment Trust
Barrett Growth Fund	Hotchkis and Wiley Funds	Rainier Funds
Barrett Opportunity Fund	Huber Funds	RBC Funds Trust
Boston Common Funds	Intrepid Capital Management	Roosevelt Funds
Brandes Investment Trust	IronBridge Funds	Schooner Investment Group
Brandywine Blue Funds, Inc.	Jacob Funds, Inc.	SCS Financial Funds
Bridges Investment Fund, Inc.	Jensen Funds	Smead Value Fund
Bright Rock Funds	Keystone Mutual Funds	Snow Capital Family of Funds
Brown Advisory Funds	Kirr Marbach Partners Funds, Inc	Stephens Management Co.
Buffalo Funds	LKCM Funds	Stephens Management Co.
CAN SLIM Select Growth Fund	LoCorr Funds	Strategic Income Funds
Capital Advisors Funds	MainGate MLP Funds	Teberg Fund
Chase Funds	Marketfield Fund	The Cushing MLP Funds
Coldstream Funds	Litman Gregory Masters Funds	The Wall Street Fund, Inc.
Congress Fund	Matrix Asset Advisors, Inc.	Thomas White Funds
Contravisory Funds	MD Sass	Thompson Plumb (TIM)
Convergence Funds	Monetta Fund, Inc.	Thunderstorm Mutual Funds
Cookson Peirce	Monetta Trust	Tiedemann Funds
Corporate America Fund	Morgan Dempsey Funds	TIFF Investment Program, Inc.
Country Funds	Muhlenkamp (Wexford Trust)	Tortoise Funds
Davidson Funds	New Covenant Funds	Tygh Capital Management
DoubleLine Funds	Newgate Capital	USA Mutuals Funds
DSM Capital Funds	Nicholas Funds	Villere Fund
Edgar Lomax Value Fund	Niemann Tactical Return Fund	WBI Funds
Empiric Funds, Inc.	Nuance Funds	Windowpane Advisors, LLC
Evermore Global Investors Trust	Orinda Funds	Winslow Green Mutual Funds
First American Funds, Inc.	O'Shaughnessy Funds	Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc.
Fort Pitt Capital Group, Inc.	Osterweis Funds	WY Funds
Fund X Funds	Performance Trust Mutual Funds

Quasar is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Quasar is located at 615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

(b)	The following is a list of the executive officers, directors and partners of Quasar.

The business address for each of the executive officers and directors of Quasar, except Mr. Kern and Mr. Falkeis, is US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. The business address for Mr. Kern and Mr. Falkeis is US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Name and Principal Business Address	Positions and Offices with Principal Underwriter	Positions and Officers With Fund
James Robert Schoenike	President and Board Member	None
Joe Redwine	Board Member	None
Robert Kern	Board Member	None
Eric Walter Falkeis	Board Member	None
Andrew M. Strnad	Secretary	None
Teresa Cowan	Assistant Secretary	None
Susan LaFond	Treasurer	None
John Kinsella	Assistant Treasurer	None

(c)	Not applicable.

Item 33. 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 Transfer Agent	Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. PO Box 8061 Boston, MA 02266

Registrant’s Investment Adviser and Principal Underwriter	Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC 2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215 Purchase, NY 10577 (records required by paragraphs (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(6), (a)(10), (a)(11), and (f) of Rule 31a-1)

Registrant’s Administrator, Custodian and Fund Accountant	State Street Bank and Trust Company One Lincoln Street Boston, MA 02111

ITEM 34. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Not Applicable.

ITEM 35. UNDERTAKINGS

The Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to shareholders, upon request and without charge.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Amended Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Purchase and State of New York on the 24th day of October, 2011.

ALPINE SERIES TRUST

By: /s/ Samuel A. Lieber

Samuel A. Lieber, President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on October 24, 2011.

Signature	Title

/s/ Samuel A. Lieber Samuel A. Lieber	President and Trustee
Laurence B. Ashkin* Laurence B. Ashkin	Trustee
H. Guy Leibler * H. Guy Leibler	Trustee
Jeffrey E. Wacksman * Jeffrey E. Wacksman	Trustee
James A. Jacobson* James A. Jacobson	Trustee

*By: /s/ Samuel A. Lieber Samuel A. Lieber Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Power of Attorney

*Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference

EXHIBIT INDEX

(a)(1)

Certificate of Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated September 27, 2011

(a)(2)

Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes dated September 27, 2011

(4)(b)

Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement dated September 27, 2011

(m)	Distribution Plan of Class A Shares dated September 27, 2011

(n)	Rule 18f-3 Plan dated September 27, 2011

(p)(2)

Joint Code of Ethics dated September 7, 2011