N-CSR 1 d814229dncsr.htm RBB FUND INC. RBB Fund Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number   811-05518                

                             The RBB Fund, Inc.                            

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Bellevue Park Corporate Center

103 Bellevue Parkway

                                     Wilmington, DE  19809                                    

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Salvatore Faia

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

                                     Wilmington, DE  19809                                    

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  302-791-1851

Date of fiscal year end:  August 31

Date of reporting period:  August 31, 2014

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

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


 

LOGO

ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

of

THE RBB FUND, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT

AUGUST 31, 2014

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Fund.


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

ANNUAL INVESTMENT ADVISERS REPORT

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

Summary

The Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) was up +3.60% from inception to August 31, 2014 with gains in currency, bond and several commodity markets outweighing losses in energy and equities. Diversified Trendfollowing (“Trendfollowing”) and Global Macro managers drove gains, while the Fund’s Value manager also contributed positively.

Market Review

Central bank policy and commentary, and divergences in the health of regional economies, were the key drivers for markets in the period. Evidence of a strengthening US recovery was bolstered by positive employment and GDP growth and an improving housing market. In contrast, the eurozone’s economic recovery struggled to gain traction, demonstrated by weak GDP data, a decline in industrial production and a drop in inflation to close to a five-year low. The diverging economic performance prompted differing responses from the US Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) and the European Central Bank (the “ECB”). The former continued to taper its stimulus program and shift to a marginally more hawkish stance, while speculation increased that the latter would increase stimulus measures further by using unconventional policy tools. This speculation triggered a rally in eurozone fixed income markets. In the US, bonds also rallied, despite signs of a strengthening economy, as the decline in European core and periphery yields helped spur a reach for yield across G7 bond markets. Shorter-term rates in the US did rise, resulting in a flattening of the yield curve, as the stronger economic data prompted a re-evaluation of the expected pace of Fed tightening. The differing economic performance and outlook for central bank policies between the US and the eurozone was reflected in the widening interest-rate differential, which had begun to widen in June when the ECB lowered rates for the first time this year. The higher yield spread drove a strong and persistent trend in currency markets with EUR/USD falling from 1.37 to 1.31 over the period, and the USD advancing by a similar magnitude against the JPY and CHF. Periodic bouts of risk aversion, due to unrest in Ukraine, Israel and Iraq, weighed on risk assets at times, while Argentina’s selective default and difficulties in the Portuguese banking sector were also temporary concerns. These events, however, ultimately had little impact on the direction of most markets over the period. Global equities were mixed with the S&P 500 rising, eurozone indices declining and Japanese stocks advancing on the weaker JPY. Within commodities, energy markets were sharply lower as data showed a notable increase in stockpiles of crude oil, while precious metals declined on the back of gains in the USD and generally improving economic fundamentals in the US. Agricultural commodities experienced significant declines as reports indicated record wheat, corn and soybean yields would be harvested this year.

Performance Attribution Analysis

The Fund captured gains from the USD rally against the EUR, JPY and CHF, with all trading styles profiting in the sector. Trading in bonds also contributed positively, with Trendfollowing managers’ gains from long exposure to European and US instruments outweighing losses incurred by the Value manager’s short position in the Euro Bund 10-Year contract. Trendfollowing managers added to Fund gains due to short exposure to grain and soft commodity markets and long positions in base metals. Energy markets were the largest detractor from performance, primarily driven by Trendfollowing managers’ long crude oil exposure in July. The Fund also incurred losses in equity markets, driven by primarily long exposure to European markets. Gains for Trendfollowing managers from long exposure to the Hang Seng and Nasdaq 100 indices were outweighed by losses from Global Macro and Value managers, with the former incurring losses from a long S&P 500 position in July and the latter from a short position in the same index in August.

 

1G7 Bonds refer to bonds that are issued by governments of the following seven countries: United States, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.

 

1


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

PERFORMANCE DATA

(UNAUDITED)

 

TOTAL RETURNS AS OF AUGUST 31, 2014*

       
     Since
Inception**
 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund, I Shares

    3.60%   

BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index

    0.01%   

Barclay CTA Index

    1.64%   

 

*

Not annualized.

 

**

Inception date of the Fund is July 1, 2014.

Class A Shares inception date was August 29, 2014.

    Performance quoted is past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the returns quoted above. Returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Call Abbey Capital Limited at 1-844-261-6484 for returns current to the most recent month-end.

    An investment in the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund is speculative and involves substantial risk. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. It is possible that an investor may lose some or all of their investment. The Fund invests in long and short positions in futures, forwards, spot contracts, swaps, and options, each of which may be tied to commodities, financial indices and instruments, foreign currencies, or equity indices. The Fund also invests in investment grade fixed income securities of all durations and maturities. The Fund may be more volatile than investments in traditional securities. Losses on futures and other derivatives can be caused by unanticipated market movements and may be potentially unlimited. Commodities, currencies, foreign investments, and interest rate-linked instruments each entail special risks. The Fund is non-diversified; therefore gains or losses on a single holding may have a relatively great impact on the Fund. A more complete description of the Fund’s risks can be found in its prospectus, which should read carefully before investing.

    The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence. The Fund’s gross annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 2.38% and the Fund’s net operating expense ratio is 1.99%. Abbey Capital Limited has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) to 1.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares. This contractual limitation is in effect until June 30, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors.

    The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged market index of U.S. Treasury securities maturing in 90 days that assumes reinvestment of all income.

    The Barclay CTA Index is a leading industry benchmark of representative performance of commodity trading advisors.

    Portfolio composition is subject to change.

 

2


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLES

(UNAUDITED)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, shareholder servicing fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period from July 1, 2014 (date of commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

ACTUAL EXPENSES

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

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    I SHARES
    BEGINNING ACCOUNT VALUE*    ENDING ACCOUNT VALUE
AUGUST 31, 2014
   EXPENSES PAID
DURING PERIOD

Actual**

  $1,000.00    $1,036.00    $3.42

Hypothetical

       

(5% return before expenses)***

    1,000.00      1,015.07      10.21

 

 

*

The Fund commenced operations on July 1, 2014.

 

**

Expenses equal to an annualized expense ratio for the period July 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014 of 2.01% for the I Shares of the Fund, which includes waived fees or reimbursed expenses (including dividend and interest expense), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent period (61) then divided by 365 days. The annualized amount of interest expense was 0.02% for the period July 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014. Without this expense, the annualized expense ratio would have been 1.99%. The Fund’s ending account value on the first line in the table is based on the actual total return since inception for the I Shares of the Fund of 3.60%.

 

***

For comparison purposes, the hypothetical expenses are as if the Fund had been in existence from March 1, 2014 and are equal to the I Shares annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period (184), then divided by 365.

 

3


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY TABLE

AUGUST 31, 2014

(UNAUDITED)

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund.

 

SECURITY TYPE/SECTOR CLASSIFICATION    % OF NET
ASSETS
  VALUE  

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS:

    

U.S. Treasury Obligations

   64.0%   $ 15,588,967   

PURCHASED OPTIONS

   0.6     150,006   

WRITTEN OPTIONS

   (0.2)     (61,878

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

   35.6     8,671,435   
  

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   100.0%   $   24,348,530   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

Refer to the Consolidated Portfolio of Investments for a detailed listing of the Fund’s holdings.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

4


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    PAR
    (000’S)    
    VALUE  

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 64.0%

  

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS—64.0%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills

   

0.085% 09/25/14

  $ 2,500      $ 2,499,972   

0.075% 10/23/14

    2,500        2,499,938   

0.081% 11/20/14

    2,500        2,499,933   

0.068% 12/18/14

    3,090        3,089,839   

0.056% 01/15/15

    2,500        2,499,765   

0.034% 02/12/15

    2,500        2,499,520   
   

 

 

 
      15,588,967   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

(Cost $ 15,588,622)

  

  

    15,588,967   
   

 

 

 
   

 

 

NUMBER

OF

CONTRACTS

  

  

  

 

PURCHASED OPTIONS — 0.6%

  

CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED — 0.2%

  

Nikkei 225 Symbiotic

   

Microfinance Index

   

Expires 12/12/14

   

Strike Price 15,000

    15        52,261   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED

(Cost $ 63,691)

  

  

    52,261   
   

 

 

 

PUT OPTIONS PURCHASED — 0.4%

  

90-Day Eurodollar Futures

   

Expires 03/16/15

   

Strike Price 100

    180        24,750   

90-Day Eurodollar Futures

   

Expires 06/15/15

   

Strike Price 99

    60        13,875   

AUD USD Currency Futures

   

Expires 09/05/14

   

Strike Price 91

    42        420   

EUR Foreign Exchange Currency Futures

   

Expires 09/05/14

   

Strike Price 1

    28        31,150   

EUR Foreign Exchange Currency Futures

   

Expires 10/03/14

   

Strike Price 1

    21        6,037   

JPY Currency Futures

   

Expires 10/03/14

   

Strike Price 95

    40        14,500   

JPY Currency Futures

   

Expires 09/05/14

   

Strike Price 96

    17        7,013   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL PUT OPTIONS PURCHASED

(Cost $ 88,063)

  

  

    97,745   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS — 0.6%

  

 

(Cost $ 151,754)

  

    150,006   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 64.6%

  

(Cost $ 15,740,376)

      15,738,973   
   

 

 

 
    NUMBER
OF
CONTRACTS
    VALUE  

WRITTEN OPTIONS — (0.2)%

  

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN—(0.2)%

  

Nikkei 225 Symbiotic

   

Microfinance Index

   

Expires 12/12/14

   

Strike Price 14,000

    (8   $ (57,091
   

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN
(Premiums Received $ 60,271)

   

    (57,091
   

 

 

 

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN—0.0%

  

90-Day Eurodollar Futures

   

Expires 06/15/15

   

Strike Price 99

    (31     (3,100

90-Day Eurodollar Futures

   

Expires 03/16/15

   

Strike Price 99

    (54     (1,687
   

 

 

 

TOTAL PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN
(Premiums Received $ 5,513)

   

    (4,787
   

 

 

 

TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS — (0.2)%

  

(Premiums Received $ 65,784)

      (61,878
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF
LIABILITIES — 35.6%

      8,671,435   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

  

  $ 24,348,530   
   

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

5


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

LONG CONTRACTS

   EXPIRATION
DATE
   NUMBER OF
    CONTRACTS    
     NOTIONAL
COST
     UNREALZED
APPRECIATION
    (DEPRECIATION)    
 

10-Year Mini Japanese Government Bond Futures

   September 2014      30       $         4,210,832       $         4,940   

3-Month Euro Euribor

   June 2015      57         18,696,571         4,845   

3-Month Euro Euribor

   September 2015      6         1,967,355         1,018   

3-Month Euro Euribor

   December 2015      14         4,589,241         2,710   

3-Month Euro Euribor

   March 2016      2         655,320         509   

3-Month Euro Euribor

   June 2016      4         1,310,245         1,084   

90-DAY Bank Bill

   March 2015      1         928,093         (23

90-DAY Bank Bill

   June 2015      3         2,783,982         91   

90-DAY Eurodollar Futures

   June 2015      5         1,245,487         (2,238

90-DAY Eurodollar Futures

   September 2015      4         992,587         (238

90-DAY Eurodollar Futures

   December 2015      8         1,982,938         (2,838

90-DAY Eurodollar Futures

   March 2016      3         741,025         (325

90-DAY Eurodollar Futures

   June 2016      4         985,537         (588

90-DAY Eurodollar Futures

   September 2016      1         245,588         (25

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   June 2015      60         12,292,732         25,691   

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   September 2015      3         613,898         809   

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   March 2016      1         203,533         633   

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   June 2016      2         406,900         747   

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   September 2016      1         202,972         529   

Amsterdam Index Futures

   September 2014      1         103,874         4,686   

AUD/CAD X-Rate Futures

   September 2014      1         185,965         570   

AUD/JPY X-Rate Futures

   September 2014      1         181,960         4,633   

AUD/NZD X-Rate Futures

   September 2014      1         183,450         3,480   

AUD/USD Currency Futures

   September 2014      3         279,820         (70

Australian 3-Year Bond Futures

   September 2014      2         205,005         (170

Bank Acceptance Futures

   March 2015      86         19,511,744         2,972   

Bank Acceptance Futures

   June 2015      1         226,869         (23

CAC 40 10 Euro Futures

   September 2014      4         225,449         4,757   

Canadian 10-Year Bond Futures

   December 2014      19         2,382,544         17,226   

Cocoa Futures

   December 2014      5         159,240         2,210   

Cocoa Futures - London International Financials Futures Exchange

   September 2014      2         66,356         1,942   

Cocoa Futures - London International Financials Futures Exchange

   December 2014      5         165,217         2,208   

Coffee ‘C’ Futures

   December 2014      3         217,012         9,338   

DAX Index Futures

   September 2014      2         621,994         (1,774

Dollar Index

   September 2014      6         489,310         7,388   

Dow Jones Industrial Average E-Mini Chicago Board of Trade

   September 2014      9         764,145         4,680   

Euro BUXL 30-Year Bond

   September 2014      1         180,669         10,748   

Euro STOXX 50

   September 2014      7         292,250         (1,143

Euro-Bobl Futures

   September 2014      32         5,398,891         34,794   

Euro-Bund Futures

   September 2014      12         2,326,991         62,413   

EURO-SCHATZ Futures

   September 2014      14         2,037,165         861   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

   September 2014      9         1,009,654         6,574   

FTSE 250 Y2

   September 2014      2         105,518         (332

FTSE/JSE Top 40

   September 2014      2         86,750         (1,275

Hang Seng Index Futures

   September 2014      10         1,608,441         (16,000

H-Shares Index Futures

   September 2014      1         71,174         (568

IBEX 35 Index Futures

   September 2014      1         136,691         3,885   

JPY 10-Year Bond (Osaka Securities Exchange)

   September 2014      3         4,207,795         8,554   

Live Cattle Futures

   December 2014      1         60,770         810   

London Mercantile Exchange Aluminum Forward

   September 2014      1         25,370         26,668   

London Mercantile Exchange Aluminum Forward

   October 2014      2         99,487         5,038   

London Mercantile Exchange Aluminum Forward

   November 2014      2         103,477         1,448   

London Mercantile Exchange Aluminum Forward

   December 2014      9         461,688         11,544   

London Mercantile Exchange Copper Forward

   September 2014              16,491         (16,491

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

6


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

LONG CONTRACTS

   EXPIRATION
    DATE    
   NUMBER OF
        CONTRACTS         
     NOTIONAL
    COST    
    UNREALZED
APPRECIATION
    (DEPRECIATION)    
 

London Mercantile Exchange Copper Forward

   October 2014            $ 3,407      $ (3,408

London Mercantile Exchange Copper Forward

   December 2014      2         352,000        (2,975

London Mercantile Exchange Lead Forward

   September 2014              (1,600     1,600   

London Mercantile Exchange Lead Forward

   October 2014      1         54,925        994   

London Mercantile Exchange Lead Forward

   November 2014      1         56,050        (19

London Mercantile Exchange Lead Forward

   December 2014      1         56,575        (456

London Mercantile Exchange Zinc Forward ($)

   September 2014      1         46,367        12,464   

London Mercantile Exchange Zinc Forward ($)

   October 2014      1         57,541        1,340   

London Mercantile Exchange Zinc Forward ($)

   November 2014      1         58,475        525   

Long Gilt Futures

   December 2014      15         2,805,166        22,213   

Mini Hang Seng Index Futures

   September 2014      2         64,788        (1,090

MSCI Singapore Exchange ETS

   September 2014      2         121,612        (753

MSCI Taiwan Index

   September 2014      5         170,835        1,265   

MXN Futures

   September 2014      1         38,110        100   

Nasdaq 100 E-Mini

   September 2014      23         1,840,295        37,425   

Nikkei 225 (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)

   September 2014      1         75,225        2,025   

Nikkei 225 (Singapore Exchange)

   September 2014      10         741,554        (769

Nikkei 225 Mini

   September 2014      7         103,249        495   

Russell 2000 Mini

   September 2014      1         114,080        3,260   

S&P 500 E-Mini Futures

   September 2014      17         1,677,562        23,628   

S&P Mid 400 E-Mini

   September 2014      2         285,130        2,290   

S&P/ASX 200 Index (Australia)

   September 2014      1         126,714        4,390   

S&P/TSX 60 IX Futures

   September 2014      2         318,146        11,956   

SGX CNX Nifty

   September 2014      7         111,561        894   

Soybean Meal Futures

   December 2014      1         36,320        (1,250

Tokyo Price Index Futures

   September 2014      2         244,173        1,105   

U.S. Long Bond (Chicago Board of Trade)

   December 2014      6         833,109        7,453   

U.S. Treasury 10-Year Notes (Chicago Board of Trade)

   December 2014      40         5,014,258        16,992   

U.S. Treasury 5-Year Notes (Chicago Board of Trade)

   December 2014      41         4,861,492        10,781   

USD/SEK Futures

   September 2014      1         97,077        2,914   
        

 

 

   

 

 

 
         $ 119,618,258      $ 394,301   
        

 

 

   

 

 

 

SHORT CONTRACTS

          

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   March 2015      27       $ (5,553,137   $ (799

90-DAY Sterling Futures

   December 2015      7         (1,425,788     (5,842

Australian 10-Year Bond Futures

   September 2014      2         (234,014     4,295   

Bank Acceptance Futures

   September 2015      85         (19,253,489     (14,767

Brent Crude Futures

   September 2014      2         (207,100     720   

Brent Crude Futures

   October 2014      1         (103,390     (380

CAD Currency Futures

   September 2014      4         (367,860     60   

Canola Futures (Winnipeg Commodity Exchange)

   November 2014      7         (56,535     2,481   

CHF Currency Futures

   September 2014      18         (2,499,688     49,663   

Copper Futures

   December 2014      2         (157,568     (457

Corn Futures

   December 2014      12         (230,087     11,237   

Corn Futures

   March 2015      2         (38,938     1,163   

Corn Futures

   July 2015      1         (19,812     175   

Cotton No.2 Futures

   December 2014      3         (105,200     5,345   

E-Mini Crude Oil

   September 2014      1         (48,375     395   

E-Mini Crude Oil

   October 2014      1         (46,450     (1,060

E-Mini Crude Oil

   November 2014      1         (46,312     (873

E-Mini Natural Gas

   September 2014      1         (9,512     (650

E-Mini Natural Gas

   November 2014      1         (10,200     (293

EUR/AUD Futures

   September 2014      1         (170,341     5,896   

EUR/CHF Futures

   September 2014      4         (661,361     4,371   

EUR/GBP Futures

   September 2014      1         (165,329     737   

EUR/JPY Futures

   September 2014      1         (164,640     360   

EUR/JPY Futures

   September 2014      2         (328,932     372   

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

7


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

SHORT CONTRACTS

   EXPIRATION
    DATE    
   NUMBER OF
        CONTRACTS        
     NOTIONAL
    COST    
    UNREALZED
APPRECIATION
    (DEPRECIATION)    
 

Euro E-Mini Futures

   September 2014      2       $ (167,688   $ 3,500   

EURO FX CURR Futures

   September 2014      48         (8,121,438     240,438   

Gas Oil Futures (Intercontinental Exchange)

   September 2014      1         (89,000     2,525   

Gas Oil Futures (Intercontinental Exchange)

   October 2014      12         (1,046,625     4,425   

Gas Oil Futures (Intercontinental Exchange)

   November 2014      1         (87,025     (150

Gas Oil Futures (Intercontinental Exchange)

   December 2014      1         (89,650     2,325   

Gas Oil Futures (Intercontinental Exchange)

   January 2015      1         (87,550     25   

Gasoline RBOB Futures

   September 2014      2         (218,047     (2,276

GBP Currency Futures

   September 2014      18         (1,866,162     3,050   

Gold 100 Oz Futures

   December 2014      2         (254,910     (2,570

JPY Currency Futures

   September 2014      32         (3,863,264     20,864   

JPY E-Mini Futures

   September 2014      3         (183,544     3,431   

Lean Hogs Futures

   October 2014      1         (38,860     (390

Lean Hogs Futures

   December 2014      1         (35,310     (1,490

Mill Wheat Euro

   November 2014      2         (23,060     164   

Natural Gas Futures

   September 2014      3         (118,640     (3,310

Natural Gas Futures

   December 2014      1         (40,600     (2,060

New York Harbor Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Futures

   September 2014      3         (359,465     (907

New York Harbor Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Futures

   November 2014      1         (121,603     945   

Silver Futures

   December 2014      6         (587,100     2,340   

Soybean Futures

   November 2014      2         (102,600     175   

Soybean Oil Futures

   October 2014      2         (41,082     2,670   

Soybean Oil Futures

   December 2014      6         (128,994     13,290   

Sugar No.11 (World)

   September 2014      8         (148,266     9,475   

Sugar No.11 (World)

   February 2015      5         (100,744     3,080   

U.S. Treasury 2-Year Bonds (Chicago Board of Trade)

   December 2014      15         (3,284,469     (1,234

West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures

   September 2014      6         (568,960     (6,800

West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures

   November 2014      1         (92,700     (1,670

Wheat Futures (Chicago Board of Trade)

   December 2014      5         (144,887     4,013   

Wheat Futures (Chicago Board of Trade)

   March 2015      1         (29,938     813   

Wheat Futures (Kansas City Board of Trade)

   December 2014      2         (66,912     2,638   
        

 

 

   

 

 

 
         $ (54,013,151   $ 359,478   
        

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Futures Contracts

         $             65,605,107      $ 753,779   
        

 

 

   

 

 

 

Forward foreign currency contracts outstanding as of August 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

CURRENCY PURCHASED                        CURRENCY SOLD    EXPIRATION    COUNTERPARTY    UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
    (DEPRECIATION)

AUD

   1,428,494    USD    1,332,082    September 2014    BOA    $             767

AUD

   832,290    USD    781,751    September 2014    BOA    (5,295)

AUD

   2,700,000    USD    2,513,783    September 2014    BOA    4,565

AUD

   288,000    USD    268,395    September 2014    BOA    98

BRL

   535,017    USD    235,891    September 2014    BOA    2,146

CAD

   487,904    USD    453,066    September 2014    BOA    (4,480)

CAD

   497,846    USD    462,149    September 2014    BOA    (4,444)

CAD

   2,018,864    USD    1,850,000    September 2014    BOA    5,958

CAD

   881,000    USD    807,034    September 2014    BOA    2,746

CHF

   341,910    USD    384,853    September 2014    BOA    (12,375)

CHF

   312,000    USD    341,243    September 2014    BOA    (1,322)

CLP

   559,791    USD    1,011    September 2014    BOA    (58)

CZK

   305,997    USD    14,799    September 2014    BOA    (301)

EUR

   244,659    USD    327,093    September 2014    BOA    (5,598)

EUR

   235,301    USD    315,119    September 2014    BOA    (5,917)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

8


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

CURRENCY PURCHASED                        CURRENCY SOLD    EXPIRATION    COUNTERPARTY   

UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION

(DEPRECIATION)

EUR

  100,000    USD    131,864    September 2014    BOA    $            (455)

EUR

  288,500    USD    380,766    September 2014    BOA    (1,638)

GBP

  167,686    USD    285,678    September 2014    BOA    (7,324)

GBP

  621,485    USD    1,062,736    September 2014    BOA    (31,105)

GBP

  550,000    USD    912,197    September 2014    BOA    754

GBP

  20,000    USD    33,084    September 2014    BOA    112

HUF

  13,593,687    USD    58,519    September 2014    BOA    (1,816)

INR

  4,918,989    USD    81,078    September 2014    BOA    (317)

JPY

  15,609,904    EUR    114,000    September 2014    BOA    249

JPY

  11,042,271    USD    108,060    September 2014    BOA    (1,918)

JPY

  56,568,400    USD    556,871    September 2014    BOA    (13,112)

JPY

  20,787,932    USD    200,000    September 2014    BOA    (173)

JPY

  3,080,000    USD    29,607    September 2014    BOA    1

KRW

  257,134,701    USD    252,476    September 2014    BOA    947

MXN

  4,628,415    USD    353,798    September 2014    BOA    (189)

MXN

  3,516,370    USD    269,148    September 2014    BOA    (535)

MYR

  95,840    USD    30,083    September 2014    BOA    289

NOK

  2,163,777    USD    349,767    September 2014    BOA    (825)

NOK

  15,379,350    USD    2,500,000    September 2014    BOA    (20,275)

NZD

  1,699,492    USD    1,465,287    September 2014    BOA    (45,657)

NZD

  366,067    USD    314,980    September 2014    BOA    (9,254)

NZD

  1,400,000    USD    1,172,541    September 2014    BOA    (3,646)

NZD

  18,000    USD    14,945    September 2014    BOA    74

PLN

  577,972    USD    188,397    September 2014    BOA    (8,105)

RUB

  6,469,855    USD    183,078    September 2014    BOA    (8,858)

SEK

  639,504    USD    93,006    September 2014    BOA    (1,511)

SGD

  166,843    USD    134,093    September 2014    BOA    (519)

SGD

  269,000    USD    215,756    September 2014    BOA    (396)

TRY

  967,263    USD    447,880    September 2014    BOA    (1,731)

TWD

  786,693    USD    26,228    September 2014    BOA    94

USD

  358,960    AUD    385,545    September 2014    BOA    (771)

USD

  217,312    AUD    234,249    September 2014    BOA    (1,222)

USD

  373,684    AUD    400,000    September 2014    BOA    596

USD

  90,196    AUD    97,000    September 2014    BOA    (234)

USD

  95,021    BRL    217,433    September 2014    BOA    (1,717)

USD

  410,045    CAD    445,827    September 2014    BOA    145

USD

  542,644    CAD    592,318    September 2014    BOA    (1,916)

USD

  150,000    CAD    164,277    September 2014    BOA    (1,021)

USD

  520,898    CAD    573,000    September 2014    BOA    (5,780)

USD

  425,000    CHF    387,389    September 2014    BOA    3,011

USD

  692,288    CHF    623,825    September 2014    BOA    12,690

USD

  668,601    CHF    612,000    September 2014    BOA    1,832

USD

  10,155    CLP    5,812,520    September 2014    BOA    262

USD

  98,843    CZK    2,014,387    September 2014    BOA    3,401

USD

  935,660    EUR    705,000    September 2014    BOA    9,291

USD

  1,282,063    EUR    951,538    September 2014    BOA    31,691

USD

  1,278,819    EUR    948,094    September 2014    BOA    32,960

USD

  3,531,348    EUR    2,650,000    September 2014    BOA    49,014

USD

  698,410    EUR    529,000    September 2014    BOA    3,231

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

9


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

CURRENCY PURCHASED      CURRENCY SOLD      EXPIRATION   

COUNTERPARTY

 

UNREALIZED

APPRECIATION

(DEPRECIATION)

 
USD     227,024         GBP         134,555       September 2014    BOA        $        3,665   
USD     282,526         GBP         167,564       September 2014    BOA        4,378   
USD     2,080,721         GBP         1,250,000       September 2014    BOA        5,834   
USD     253,626         GBP         153,000       September 2014    BOA        (328
USD     92,935         HUF         21,561,933       September 2014    BOA        2,995   
USD     25,562         INR         1,563,264       September 2014    BOA        (104
USD     703,990         JPY         72,123,586       September 2014    BOA        10,719   
USD     1,402,889         JPY         144,168,000       September 2014    BOA        17,086   
USD     1,200,000         JPY         123,379,770       September 2014    BOA        13,995   
USD     224,167         JPY         23,293,000       September 2014    BOA        247   
USD     98,819         KRW         101,887,061       September 2014    BOA        (1,597
USD     172,654         MXN         2,279,301       September 2014    BOA        (1,484
USD     85,223         MXN         1,122,840       September 2014    BOA        (550
USD     5,803         MYR         18,600       September 2014    BOA        (91
USD     108,585         NOK         675,217       September 2014    BOA        (304
USD     200,000         NOK         1,229,713       September 2014    BOA        1,724   
USD     393,877         NZD         464,165       September 2014    BOA        6,149   
USD     475,834         NZD         565,789       September 2014    BOA        3,306   
USD     665,661         NZD         800,000       September 2014    BOA        (2,279
USD     103,934         NZD         125,000       September 2014    BOA        (362
USD     161,904         PLN         505,226       September 2014    BOA        4,305   
USD     142,474         RUB         5,145,585       September 2014    BOA        3,914   
USD     385,755         SEK         2,643,014       September 2014    BOA        7,616   
USD     1,600,000         SEK         11,000,485       September 2014    BOA        26,172   
USD     74,115         SGD         92,572       September 2014    BOA        2   
USD     250,933         TRY         543,989       September 2014    BOA        18   
USD     44,988         TWD         1,346,933       September 2014    BOA        (78
USD     103,129         ZAR         1,108,135       September 2014    BOA        (529
ZAR     3,274,944         USD         304,865       September 2014    BOA                  1,483   

Total Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

          $      61,016   

 

AUD   Australian Dollar       MSCI    Morgan Stanley Capital International
BOA   Bank of America     MXN    Mexican Peso
BRL   Brazilian Real     MYR    Malaysian Ringgit
CAD   Canadian Dollar     NOK    Norwegian Krone
CHF   Swiss Franc     NZD    New Zealand Dollar
CLP   Chilean Peso     PLN    Polish Zloty
CZK   Czech Koruna     RBOB    Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending
DAX   Deutscher Aktienindex     RUB    Russian Ruble
EUR   Euro     SEK    Swedish Krona
GBP   British Pound     SGD    Singapore Dollar
HUF   Hungarian Forint     TRY    Turkish Lira
IBEX   Index of the Bolsa de Madrid     TSX    Toronto Stock Exchange
INR   Indian Rupee     TWD    Taiwan Dollar
JPY   Japanese Yen     USD    United States Dollar
KRW   Korean Won     ZAR    South African Rand

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

10


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (cost $15,740,376)

   $ 15,738,973   

Cash

     3,509,218   

Deposits with broker for forward foreign currency contracts and futures contracts

     2,817,408   

Receivables for:

  

Capital shares sold

     1,758,250   

Variation margin

     753,779   

Investment Advisor

     13,426   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     996   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     280,532   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     24,872,582   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Options written, at value (premiums received $65,784)

     61,878   

Foreign currency, at value (cost $167,463)

     164,634   

Payables for:

  

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     1,419   

Registration and filing fees

     4,009   

Administration and accounting fees

     12,952   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     1,671   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     219,516   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     57,973   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     524,052   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 24,348,530   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

  

Capital stock, $0.001 par value

   $ 2,350   

Paid-in capital

     23,592,000   

Accumulated net investment loss

     (51,195

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, futures transactions, foreign currency translations, forward foreign currency contracts and written options

     805,375   
  

 

 

 

Net assets

   $ 24,348,530   
  

 

 

 

A SHARES

  

Net assets

   $ 1,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     96,525   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 10.36   
  

 

 

 

I SHARES

  

Net assets

   $ 23,348,530   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     2,253,340   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 10.36   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

11


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED

AUGUST 31, 2014(1)

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Interest

     693   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     693   
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fees (Note 2)

     68,803   

Audit and tax service fees

     43,990   

Administration and accounting fees (Note 2)

     24,985   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

     5,264   

Registration and filing fees

     4,414   

Interest expense

     799   

Other expenses

     16,306   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

     164,561   

Less: waivers and reimbursements (Note 2)

     (94,261
  

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

     70,300   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (69,607
  

 

 

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENTS

  

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

  

Investments

     (16,240

Futures

     (38,003

Foreign currency transactions

     (44,507

Forward foreign currency contracts

     121,012   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

  

Investments

     (1,403

Futures

     739,027   

Foreign currency translation

     2,829   

Forward foreign currency contracts

     61,016   

Written options

     3,906   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     827,637   
  

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

   $ 758,030   
  

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The Fund commenced investment operations on July 1, 2014.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

12


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

     FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2014(1)
 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

  

Net investment loss

   $ (69,607

Net realized gain from investments, futures transactions, foreign currency transactions, forward foreign currency contracts and written options

     22,262   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments, futures transactions, foreign currency translation, forward foreign currency contracts and written options

     805,375   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     758,030   
  

 

 

 

CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:

  

A Shares

  

Proceeds from shares sold

     1,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total A Shares

     1,000,000   
  

 

 

 

I Shares

  

Proceeds from shares sold

     23,590,500   

Shares redeemed

     (1,000,000
  

 

 

 

Total I Shares

     22,590,500   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     23,590,500   
  

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     24,348,530   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

  

Beginning of period

       
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 24,348,530   
  

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss, end of period

   $ (51,195
  

 

 

 

SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

  

A Shares

  

Shares sold

     96,525   
  

 

 

 

Total A Shares

     96,525   
  

 

 

 

I Shares

  

Shares sold

     2,349,865   

Shares redeemed

     (96,525
  

 

 

 

Total I Shares

     2,253,340   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in shares

     2,349,865   
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

The Fund commenced investment operations on July 1, 2014.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

13


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the period. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

     I SHARES  
     FOR THE
PERIOD
ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2014(1)
 

PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 10.00   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss(2)

     (0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     0.39   
  

 

 

 

Total from operations

     0.36   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 10.36   
  

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

     3.60 %(4) 
  

 

 

 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

  

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 24,349   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements
(including interest expense)

     2.01 %(5) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements
(excluding interest expense)

     1.99 %(5) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and reimbursements
(including interest expense)

     4.71 %(5) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

     (1.99 )%(5) 

Portfolio turnover rate

     0.00 %(4) 

 

(1)  

The Fund commenced investment operations on July 1, 2014.

(2)  

Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(3)  

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(4)  

Not annualized.

(5)  

Annualized.

Class A shares inception date was August 29, 2014.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

14


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 31, 2014

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), which commenced investment operations on July 1, 2014. The Fund offers three classes of shares, Class I Shares, Class A Shares and Class C Shares. As of August 31, 2014, Class C Shares have not been offered to the public.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its assets between a “Managed Futures” strategy and a “Fixed Income” strategy.

CONSOLIDATION OF SUBSIDIARY — The Managed Futures strategy will be achieved by the Fund investing up to 25% of its total assets in Abbey Capital Offshore Fund Limited, a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Subsidiary”). The consolidated financial statements of the Fund include the Subsidiary. The Fund consolidates the results of subsidiaries in which the Fund holds a controlling economic interest (greater than 50%). All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. As of August 31, 2014, the net assets of the Subsidiary were $5,833,631, which represented 24.0% of the Fund’s net assets.

PORTFOLIO VALUATION — The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service, which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings, and are deemed representative of market values at the close of the market. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Forward exchange contracts are valued by interpolating between spot and forward currency rates as quoted by an independent pricing service. Futures contracts are generally valued using the settlement price determined by the relevant exchange. Options for which the primary market is a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are traded, or, in the absence of any sale, will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Options not traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last quoted bid price for long option positions and the closing ask price for short option positions. If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS — The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

•    Level 1 –  

quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

•    Level 2 –  

other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

15


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

•    Level 3 –  

significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:

 

     

TOTAL FAIR

VALUE AT
AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    

LEVEL 1 QUOTED
PRICE

 

    

LEVEL 2
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS

 

    

LEVEL 3
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

 

Short-Term Investments

   $ 15,588,967       $       $ 15,588,967       $—

Commodity Contracts

           

Futures

     148,548         148,548              

Equity Contracts

           

Futures

     113,315         113,315              

Purchased Options

     52,261         52,261              

Foreign Exchange Contracts

           

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

     280,532                 280,532      

Futures

     351,827         351,827              

Purchased Options

     59,120         59,120              

Interest Rate Contracts

           

Futures

     242,908         242,908              

Purchased Options

     38,625         38,625              

Total Assets

   $         16,876,103       $         1,006,604       $         15,869,499       $—
                                 

 

     

TOTAL FAIR
VALUE AT
AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    

LEVEL 1 QUOTED
PRICE

 

    

LEVEL 2
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS

 

    

LEVEL 3
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

 

Commodity Contracts

           

Futures

   $ (49,935)         $        (49,935)         $                    —       $—

Equity Contracts

           

Futures

     (23,704)         (23,704)              

Written Options

     (57,091)         (57,091)              

Foreign Exchange Contracts

           

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

     (219,516)                 (219,516)      

Futures

     (70)         (70)              

Interest Rate Contracts

           

Futures

     (29,110)         (29,110)              

Written Options

     (4,787)         (4,787)              

Total Liabilities

   $   (384,213)       $ (164,697)         $        (219,516)       $—
                                 

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

 

16


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the period ended August 31, 2014, the Fund had no transfers between Level 1, 2 and 3.

DISCLOSURES ABOUT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The following tables provide quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on the Fund’s derivative instruments as of August 31, 2014.

The following table lists the fair values of the Fund’s derivative holdings as of August 31, 2014 grouped by contract type and risk exposure category.

 

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

 

BALANCE SHEET

LOCATION

 

  

EQUITY

CONTRACTS

 

    

INTEREST

RATE

CONTRACTS

 

    

FOREIGN

CURRENCY

CONTRACTS

 

    

COMMODITY
CONTRACTS

 

    

TOTAL

 

 
           Asset Derivatives                              

Purchased Options

 

Investments, at

value

   $ 52,261       $ 38,625       $ 59,120       $       $ 150,006   

Forward Contracts

 

Unrealized

appreciation on

forward foreign

currency contracts

                     280,532                 280,532   

Futures Contracts

 

Receivable:

Variation Margin

     113,315         228,156         351,827         148,548         841,846   

Total Value -

Assets

       $         165,576       $         266,781       $         691,479       $         148,548       $         1,272,384   

 

17


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

 

BALANCE SHEET

LOCATION

 

  

EQUITY

CONTRACTS

 

   

INTEREST

RATE

CONTRACTS

 

   

FOREIGN

CURRENCY

CONTRACTS

 

   

COMMODITY
CONTRACTS

 

   

TOTAL

 

           Liability Derivatives                     

Written Options

 

Options written, at

value

   $ (57,091   $ (4,787   $      $      $          (61,878)

Forward Contracts

 

Unrealized

depreciation on

forward foreign

currency contracts

                   (219,516          (219,516)

Futures Contracts

 

Receivable:

Variation Margin

     (23,704     (29,110     (70     (49,935   (102,819)

Total Value -

Liabilities

       $         (80,795   $         (33,897   $         (219,586   $         (49,935   $        (384,213)

The following table lists the amounts of realized gains or (losses) included in net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the period ended August 31, 2014, grouped by contract type and risk exposure.

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

 

INCOME
STATEMENT

LOCATION

 

  

EQUITY

CONTRACTS

 

   

INTEREST RATE
CONTRACTS

 

   

FOREIGN
CURRENCY
CONTRACTS

 

   

COMMODITY
CONTRACTS

 

   

TOTAL

 

           Realized Gain (Loss)                     

Purchased Options

 

Net realized gain

(loss) from Investments

   $      $      $ (9,355   $ (6,885   $          (16,240)

Futures Contracts

 

Net realized gain (loss) from Futures

     (144,190     55,499        68,510        (17,822   (38,003)

Forward Contracts

 

Net realized gain

(loss) from

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

                   121,012             121,012

Total Realized

Gain (Loss)

       $         (144,190   $         55,499      $         180,167      $         (24,707   $             66,769

The following table lists the amounts of change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the period ended August 31, 2014, grouped by contract type and risk exposure.

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

 

INCOME STATEMENT

LOCATION

 

  

EQUITY

CONTRACTS

 

   

INTEREST RATE
CONTRACTS

 

   

FOREIGN
CURRENCY
CONTRACTS

 

   

COMMODITY
CONTRACTS

 

   

TOTAL

 

        Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

Purchased Options

 

Net change in

unrealized

appreciation

(depreciation) from Investments

   $ (11,430   $ (7,875   $ 17,557      $      $             (1,748)

Futures Contracts

 

Net change in

unrealized

appreciation

(depreciation) from Futures

     89,611        199,046        351,757        98,613      739,027

 

18


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

 

INCOME STATEMENT

LOCATION

 

  

EQUITY

CONTRACTS

 

    

INTEREST RATE
CONTRACTS

 

    

FOREIGN
CURRENCY
CONTRACTS

 

    

COMMODITY
CONTRACTS

 

    

TOTAL

 

 

Forward Contracts

 

Net change in

unrealized

appreciation

(depreciation) from

Forward Foreign

Currency Contracts

                     61,016                 61,016   
Written Options  

Net change in

unrealized

appreciation

(depreciation) from

Written Options

     3,180         726                         3,906   

Total change in

unrealized

appreciation

(depreciation)

       $           81,361       $         191,897       $         430,330       $           98,613       $         802,201   

For the period ended August 31, 2014, the Fund’s average volume of derivatives is as follows:

 

PURCHASED

OPTIONS

(COST)

  

WRITTEN

OPTIONS

(PROCEEDS)

  

LONG FUTURES
NOTIONAL

COST

  

SHORT FUTURES
NOTIONAL

COST

  

FORWARD FOREIGN
CURRENCY

CONTRACTS — PAYABLE

(VALUE AT TRADE  DATE)

  

FORWARD FOREIGN
CURRENCY

CONTRACTS — RECEIVABLE

(VALUE AT TRADE  DATE)

$150,682

   $(70,509)    $117,441,084    $(62,762,799)    $(38,407,771)    $38,392,884

For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (receivables) or the obligation to return cash collateral (payables) arising from derivative instruments recognized at fair value executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement.

The following is a summary of financial and derivative instruments that are subject to enforceable master netting agreements (or similar arrangements) and collateral received and pledged in connection with the master netting agreements (or similar arrangements).

 

    

Gross Amount
Presented in the

 

    

Gross Amount Not

Offset

in Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

 

           

Gross Amount
Presented in the

 

    

Gross Amount Not

Offset

in Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

 

        

Description

 

  

Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities

 

    

Financial
Instruments

 

   

Collateral
Received

 

    

Net
Amount

 

    

Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities

 

    

Financial
Instruments

 

   

Collateral
Pledged

 

    

Net
Amount

 

 

 

    

 

 

 
           

Assets

 

                        

Liabilities

 

              
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency

                     

Contracts

   $ 280,532       ($ 219,516     $—         $61,016         $219,516         ($219,516     $—         $—   

 

19


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES — The Fund records security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred for all the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is the Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

For tax purposes, the Subsidiary is an exempted Cayman investment company. The Subsidiary has received an undertaking from the Government of the Cayman Islands exempting it from all local income, profits and capital gains taxes. No such taxes are levied in the Cayman Islands at the present time. For U.S. income tax purposes, the Subsidiary is a Controlled Foreign Corporation and as such is not subject to U.S. income tax.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION — Assets and liabilities initially expressed in non-U.S. currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the applicable exchange rates at the date of the last business day of the financial statement period. Purchases and sales of securities, interest income, dividends, variation margin received and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the transaction date.

The Fund does not separately report the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices of securities held. Such changes are included with the net realized gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investment securities in the Statement of Operations. Other foreign currency transactions resulting in realized and unrealized gain or loss are reported separately as net realized gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

CURRENCY RISK — Investment in foreign securities involves currency risk associated with securities that trade or are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to a foreign currency may cause the U.S. dollar value of an investment in that country to decline. Foreign currencies also are subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government controls. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit potential gains from a favorable change in value between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated changes in currency pricing may result in poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in these contracts.

 

20


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

COMMODITY SECTOR RISK — Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The prices of energy, industrial metals, precious metals, agriculture and livestock sector commodities may fluctuate widely due to factors such as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies. The commodity-linked securities in which the Fund invests may be issued by companies in the financial services sector, and events affecting the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s Share value to fluctuate.

FOREIGN SECURITIES MARKET RISK — Securities of many non-U.S. companies may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Securities of companies traded in many countries outside the U.S., particularly emerging markets countries, may be subject to further risks due to the inexperience of local investment professionals and financial institutions, the possibility of permanent or temporary termination of trading and greater spreads between bid and asked prices of securities. In addition, non-U.S. stock exchanges and investment professionals are subject to less governmental regulation, and commissions may be higher than in the United States. Also, there may be delays in the settlement of non-U.S. stock exchange transactions.

PURCHASED OPTIONS — The Fund is subject to equity and other risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund purchases option contracts. This transaction is used to hedge against changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and values of equities. An option contract is a commitment that gives the purchaser of the contract the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. Put and call options are accounted for in the same manner as other securities owned. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by the premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

OPTIONS WRITTEN — The Fund is subject to equity and other risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and may enter into options written to hedge against changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and values of equities. Such options may relate to particular securities or domestic stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic securities exchange or issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. An option contract is a commitment that gives the purchaser of the contract the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. On the other hand, the writer of an option contract is obligated, upon the exercise of the option, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing put options is limited to the exercised fair value of the option contract. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing call options is potentially unlimited. The Fund also has the additional risk of being unable to enter into a closing transaction at an acceptable price if a liquid secondary market does not exist. The Fund also may write over-the-counter options where completing the obligation depends upon the credit standing of the other party. Option contracts also involve the risk that they may result in loss due to unanticipated developments in market conditions or other causes. Written options are initially recorded as liabilities to the extent of premiums received and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. Gains or losses are realized when the option transaction expires or closes. When an option is exercised, the proceeds on sales for a written call option or the purchase cost for a written put option is adjusted by the amount of the premium received. Listed option contracts present minimal counterparty credit risk since they are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded options, guarantees the options against default. A Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk related to OTC option contracts is limited to the premium paid. As of August 31, 2014, all of the Fund’s written options are exchange-traded options.

 

21


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

The Fund had transactions in options written during the fiscal period ended August 31, 2014 as follows:.

 

     NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
   PREMIUMS
RECEIVED
 

Options outstanding at July 1, 2014

        $       —   

Options written

   93        65,784   
     

Options outstanding at August 31, 2014

   93      $65,784   
     

FUTURES CONTRACTS — The Fund is subject to equity and other risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund may use futures contracts for hedging or speculative purposes consistent with its investment objective. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund must deposit initial margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet its obligation to purchase or provide securities, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets. Pursuant to the futures contract, the Fund agrees to receive from, or pay to the broker, an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such a receipt of payment is known as “variation margin” and is recorded by the Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Fund’s basis in the contract. Futures contracts have market risks, including the risk that the change in the value of the contract may not correlate with changes in the value of the underlying securities. Use of long futures contracts subjects the Fund to risk of loss in excess of the amount shown on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures contract. Use of short futures contracts subjects the Fund to unlimited risk of loss.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS — In the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives, the Fund is subject to foreign investment and currency risk. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts (“forward contracts”) for purposes of hedging, duration management, as a substitute for securities, to increase returns, for currency hedging or risk management, or to otherwise help achieve the Fund’s investment goal. These contracts are marked-to-market daily at the applicable translation rates. The Fund records realized gains or losses at the time the forward contract is closed. A forward contract is extinguished through a closing transaction or upon delivery of the currency or entering an offsetting contract. Risks may arise upon entering these contracts from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar or other currencies. A Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk related to Forward Foreign Currency Contracts is the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated to some extent if a master netting arrangement between a Fund and the counterparty is in place and to the extent a Fund obtains collateral to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Fund considers liquid assets deposited into bank demand deposit accounts to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

 

22


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

2. INVESTMENT ADVISER AND OTHER SERVICES

Abbey Capital Limited (“Abbey Capital” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Fund is managed by the Adviser and one or more Trading Advisers unaffiliated with the Adviser. The Adviser also has the ultimate responsibility to oversee the Trading Advisers, and to recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Fund compensates the Adviser for its services at the annual rate of 1.97% of its average annual net assets, payable on a monthly basis in arrears. The Adviser compensates the Trading Advisers out of the advisory fee that it receives from the Fund.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.99%, 2.24% and 2.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares, Class A Shares and Class C Shares, respectively. In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause net Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed 1.99%, 2.24% or 2.99%, as applicable: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until June 30, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors. If at any time during the first three years the Advisory Agreement is in effect, the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for that year are less than 1.99%, 2.24% or 2.99%, as applicable, the Adviser may recoup any waived amount from the Fund if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed existing expense limitations. For the period ended August 31, 2014, investment advisory fees accrued and waived were $68,803 and fees reimbursed by the Adviser were $25,458. At August 31, 2014, the amount of potential recovery by the Adviser was as follows:

 

    EXPIRATION    
  2017  
  $94,261  

Altis Partners (Jersey) Limited, Cantab Capital Partners LLP, Eclipse Capital Management, Inc., Graham Capital Management, LP, Harmonic Capital Partners LLP, P/E Investments, LLC, Revolution Capital Management, LLC, and Trigon Investment Advisors LLC each serves as a Trading Adviser to the Fund.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Fund. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimums, and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Fund. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimums, and out of pocket expenses.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

 

23


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

3. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The remuneration paid to the Directors by the Fund during the period ended August 31, 2014 was $62. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Fund or the Company.

4. INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES

For the period ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Fund were as follows:

 

     PURCHASES    SALES

Investments in Non-U.S. Government Securities

   $—    $—

Investments in U.S. Government Securities

     —      —

5. FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION

The Fund has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Fund to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Fund is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Fund were as follows:

 

FEDERAL TAX

COST

  

UNREALIZED

APPRECIATION

  

UNREALIZED

DEPRECIATION

  

NET

UNREALIZED

APPRECIATION

$21,419,592    $1,100,000    $(1,096,928)    $3,072

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to disallowed income from the Subsidiary, were reclassified to the following accounts:

 

UNDISTRIBUTED

NET INVESTMENT

INCOME

  

ACCUMULATED

NET REALIZED

LOSS

  

PAID-IN

CAPITAL

$18,412    $(22,262)    $3,850

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

UNDISTRIBUTED

ORDINARY INCOME

  

UNDISTRIBUTED

LONG-TERM  GAINS

  

UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION

  

QUALIFIED

LATE-YEAR

LOSSES

  

OTHER TEMPORARY
DIFFERENCES

$769,775    $—    $(15,595)    $—    $—

 

24


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONCLUDED)

 

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains of the Subsidiary for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reported as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

There were no dividends and distributions paid during the period ended August 31, 2014.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period. Additionally, capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had no capital loss carryforwards.

6. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that the following were subsequent events.

APPROVAL OF NEW TRADING ADVISORY AGREEMENT

On September 16, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a new Trading Advisory Agreement among Revolution Capital Management LLC (“Revolution”), the Fund’s subsidiary, Abbey Capital Offshore Limited, and Abbey Capital Limited, the Fund’s investment adviser. The prior Trading Advisory Agreement with Revolution automatically terminated on September 4, 2014 as a result of a change in control of Revolution. The new Trading Advisory Agreement contains substantially the same terms as the prior Trading Advisory Agreement. Shareholders approved the new Trading Advisory Agreement at a special meeting of shareholders of the Fund held on October 17, 2014 (the “Special Meeting of Shareholders”).

 

25


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (one of the portfolios constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) (the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations, the consolidated statement of changes in net assets and consolidated financial highlights for the period July 1, 2014 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2014. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (one of the portfolios constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) at August 31, 2014, and the consolidated results of its operations, the consolidated changes in its net assets and its consolidated financial highlights for the period of July 1, 2014 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 29, 2014

 

26


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

SHAREHOLDER TAX INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

    Certain tax information regarding the Fund is required to be provided to shareholders based upon each Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distribution reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014. During the period ended August 31, 2014, there were no distributions paid.

    Because the Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

    Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Fund, if any.

    In general, dividends received by tax exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

    Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

 

27


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

PROXY VOTING

    Policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (844) 261-6484 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO SCHEDULES

    The Company files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

    The following are the results of the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund referred to in Note 6:

    As of the close of business on September 16, 2014, the record date for shareholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders, there were 2,462,698.041 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. The result of the voting of shares of the Fund at the Special Meeting of Shareholders with respect to the proposal to approve the new Trading Advisory Agreement was as follows:

 

Voted For

     2,025,020.663   

Voted Against

     0   

Abstained

     0   

    As a result, the new Trading Advisory Agreement was approved by a majority of the Fund’s shareholders and Revolution was reappointed as a trading adviser.

APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS

    As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered (1) the approval of the investment advisory agreement between Abbey Capital and the Company on behalf of the Fund (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), (2) the approval of the investment advisory agreement between Abbey Capital and Abbey Capital Offshore Limited (“ACOL”) (together with the Investment Advisory Agreement, the “Advisory Agreements”), (3) the approval of the trading advisory agreements among Abbey Capital and ACOL and each of Atlis Partners (Jersey) Limited, Cantab Partners LLP, Eclipse Capital Management, Inc., Graham Capital Management L.P., Harmonic Capital Partners LLP, P/E Investments & Affiliates, Revolution Capital Management LLC, and Trigon Investment Advisors LLC (collectively, the “Trading Advisers”) (the “Trading Advisory Agreements”), at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreements and the Trading Advisory Agreements for initial periods ending August 16, 2015. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreements and the Trading Advisory Agreements reflects the exercise of its business judgment to approve the arrangements. In approving the Advisory Agreements and the Trading Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information provided by Abbey Capital and each of the Sub-Advisers with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

    In considering the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Company and Abbey Capital with respect to the Fund, the investment advisory agreement between Abbey Capital and ACOL, and the Trading Advisory Agreements among Abbey Capital, ACOL and each of the Trading Advisers, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of Abbey Capital’s services to be provided to the Fund by Abbey Capital and each Trading Adviser; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of the personnel providing those services; (iii) Abbey Capital’s and the Trading Advisers’ investment philosophies and processes; (iv) Abbey Capital’s and the Trading Advisers’ assets under management and client descriptions; (v) Abbey Capital’s and

 

28


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

 

the Trading Advisers’ soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) Abbey Capital’s and the Trading Advisers’ advisory fee arrangement with the Company and other similarly managed clients, as applicable; (vii) Abbey Capital’s and the Trading Advisers’ compliance procedures; (viii) Abbey Capital’s and the Trading Advisers’ financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Fund; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Fund; (x) a report prepared by Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”) comparing the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its Lipper peer group; and (xi) performance information provided by Abbey Capital regarding a similarly managed account.

    As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Abbey Capital and each Trading Adviser. The Directors concluded that Abbey Capital and each Trading Adviser had substantial resources to provide services to the Fund.

    The Board also considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund under the proposed Investment Advisory Agreement between Abbey Capital and the Company. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) was compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. In addition, the Directors noted that Abbey Capital has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through June 30, 2016 to the extent that total annual Fund operating expenses exceed 1.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Class I Shares, 2.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A Shares and 2.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class C Shares. The Directors also considered the fees payable to each Trading Adviser under the Trading Advisory Agreements. In this regard, the Directors noted that the fees for each Trading Adviser would be payable by Abbey Capital.

    After reviewing the information regarding the Fund’s costs, the Adviser’s estimated profitability and economies of scale, and after considering the services to be provided by Abbey Capital and each Trading Adviser, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees to be paid by the Fund to Abbey Capital and the trading advisory fees to be paid by Abbey Capital to each Trading Adviser were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreements and Trading Advisory Agreements should be approved for initial periods ending August 16, 2015.

 

29


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT

(UNAUDITED)

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (866) 882-1226.

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  

Position(s)
Held

with
Company

   Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
   Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex 
Overseen by
Director*
  

Other
Directorships
Held

by Director

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

   Director    1988 to present        Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.    23    AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

   Director    2002 to present        Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.    23    None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

   Director    2012 to present        Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).    23    Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

   Director    2006 to present        Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.    23    Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

   Chairman Director    2005 to present     1991 to present        Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.    23    None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

   Director    2006 to present        Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.    23    Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

30


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  

Position(s)
Held

with
Company

   Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
   Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  

Other
Directorships
Held

by Director

 

INTERESTED DIRECTORS 2

 

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

   Director    2012 to present   

Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund

Accounting and Administration, BNY

Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to

July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund

Accounting and Administration,

PNC Global Investment Servicing.

   23    None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

   Director    1991 to present   

Since July 2002, Senior Vice President

and prior thereto, Executive Vice

President of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a

registered broker-dealer).

   23    None

 

31


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  

Position(s)
Held

with
Company

   Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
   Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex 
Overseen by
Director*
  

Other
Directorships
Held

by Director

 

OFFICERS

 

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

   President and Chief Compliance Officer    President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present    President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.    N/A    N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

   Treasurer    2009 to present    Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).    N/A    N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

   Secretary    2014 to present    Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.    N/A    N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

   Assistant Treasurer    2005 to present    Since 1995, Vice President and Senior Director of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).    N/A    N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

   Assistant Secretary    1999 to present    Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).    N/A    N/A

 

  

*Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

  

1Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved a waiver of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

  

2Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

32


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

PRIVACY NOTICE

(UNAUDITED)

 

Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund

 

FACTS   WHAT DOES THE ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND DO WITH YOUR
PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Why?

  Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

 

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

Ÿ Social Security number

Ÿ account balances

Ÿ account transactions

Ÿ transaction history

Ÿ wire transfer instructions

Ÿ checking account information

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

How?

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

 

Reasons we can share your information   

Does the Abbey Capital

Futures Strategy Fund

Share?

  

Can you limit this

sharing?

For our everyday business purpose —such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus    Yes    No

For our marketing purposes —

to offer our products and services to you

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

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your transactions and experiences

   Yes    Yes

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your creditworthiness

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

 

Questions?    Call 1-844-261-6484 or go to www.abbeycapital.com
        

 

33


ABBEY CAPITAL FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

PRIVACY NOTICE

(UNAUDITED)

 

What we do     
How does the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How does the Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

Ÿ open an account

Ÿ provide account information

Ÿ give us your contact information

Ÿ make a wire transfer

Ÿ tell us where to send the money

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

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

Ÿ affiliates from using your information to market to you

Ÿ sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

Definitions    
Affiliates  

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

Our affiliates include Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund’s investment adviser, Abbey Capital Limited, and each sub-adviser.

Nonaffiliates  

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

The Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing  

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

The Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund does not jointly market.

 

34


 

 

 

 

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Investment Adviser

Abbey Capital Limited

1-2 Cavendish Row

Dublin 1, Ireland

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

www.foreside.com

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, Suite 700

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


 

 

The Bedford Class

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Money Market

Portfolio

Annual Report

August 31, 2014

An investment in the Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it’s possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Portfolio. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a prospectus for the Portfolio.

 

 

 


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Fund Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Money Market Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees, and other Portfolio expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014 and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees that may be incurred by shareholders of other funds. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying tables is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

     Money Market Portfolio – Bedford Class  
     Beginning
Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending
Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During
Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,000.10         $ 0.81   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,024.40           0.82   
     Money Market Portfolio – Sansom Street Class  
     Beginning
Account Value
March 1, 2013
       Ending
Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During
Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,000.20         $ 0.81   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,024.40           0.82   

 

* Expenses are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized six month expense ratio of 0.16% for the Bedford Class shares and 0.16% for the Sansom Street Class shares, which includes waived fees or reimbursed expenses, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184) in the most recent fiscal half-year, then divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period. The Portfolio’s ending account value on the first line in each table is based on the actual six-month total return of 0.01% for the Bedford Class shares and 0.02% for the Sansom Street Class shares.

 

1


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Security
Type

   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

Short Term Investments:

    

Commercial Paper

     38.5   $ 222,439,918   

Certificates of Deposit

     37.7        217,573,022   

U.S. Treasury Obligations

     9.0        52,208,300   

Municipal Bonds

     6.7        38,650,000   

Repurchase Agreements

     5.4        31,000,000   

Agency Obligations

     1.9        10,999,089   

Variable Rate Obligations

     0.8        4,900,000   

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

     0.0        61,043   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

     100.0   $ 577,831,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

2


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Schedule of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Par
(000)
     Value  

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT—37.7%

  

Domestic Certificates Of Deposit—5.5%

  

Citibank N.A.

     

0.230%, 11/07/14

   $ 5,000       $ 5,000,000   

State Street Bank and Trust Co.

     

0.200%, 09/08/14

     4,000         4,000,000   

Wells Fargo Bank NA(a)

     

0.225%, 11/26/14

     8,000         8,000,000   

0.260%, 02/17/15

     4,000         4,000,000   

0.250%, 03/13/15

     6,000         6,000,000   

0.246%, 06/12/15

     5,000         5,000,000   
     

 

 

 
          32,000,000   
     

 

 

 

Euro Dollar Certificates Of Deposit—1.1%

  

National Australia Bank Ltd., London(a)

  

0.230%, 10/23/14

     6,000         6,000,000   
     

 

 

 

Yankee Dollar Certificates Of Deposit—31.1%(b)

  

Australia & New Zealand Banking Ltd., New York(a)

  

0.225%, 02/25/15

     5,000         5,000,000   

Bank of Montreal, Chicago(a)

     

0.226%, 09/05/14

     8,000         8,000,000   

0.199%, 12/08/14

     3,000         3,000,000   

0.237%, 04/09/15

     4,000         4,000,000   

Bank of Nova Scotia, Houston(a)

     

0.227%, 12/01/14

     5,000         5,000,000   

0.207%, 03/09/15

     5,000         5,000,000   

0.249%, 08/04/15

     4,000         4,000,000   

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. 0.250%, 02/25/15

     3,000         3,000,000   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York(a)

  

0.225%, 06/17/15

     4,000         4,000,000   

Credit Agricole CIB, New York

     

0.250%, 09/04/14

     6,000         6,000,000   

Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, New York

  

0.090%, 09/02/14

     8,923         8,923,000   

Credit Suisse, New York

     

0.295%, 11/14/14

     7,000         7,000,000   

0.265%, 12/08/14

     8,000         8,000,000   

Mizuho Bank Ltd., New York

     

0.200%, 09/03/14

     2,000         2,000,000   

National Bank of Canada, New York

     

0.260%, 12/19/14

     1,900         1,900,000   

0.265%, 05/22/15(a)

     4,000         4,000,000   

Natixis, New York(a)(c)

     

0.277%, 09/08/14

     6,000         5,999,988   

Nordea Bank Finland PLC, New York

     

0.240%, 02/17/15

     3,000         3,000,000   

Norinchukin Bank, New York

     

0.100%, 09/03/14

     10,000         10,000,000   

Rabobank Nederland NV, New York

     

0.266%, 09/16/14(a)

     12,000         12,000,000   

0.350%, 01/12/15

     6,000         6,000,000   

0.284%, 04/14/15(a)

     4,000         4,000,000   
    

 

Par

(000)

  

  

     Value   

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT—(Continued)

  

Yankee Dollar Certificates Of Deposit—(Continued)

  

Royal Bank of Canada, New York

     

0.280%, 10/10/14(a)

   $ 4,000       $ 4,000,000   

0.235%, 10/23/14

     3,000         3,000,000   

0.260%, 12/05/14(a)

     6,000         6,000,000   

0.260%, 01/21/15(a)

     5,000         5,000,000   

0.260%, 02/04/15(a)

     3,000         3,000,000   

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, New York

  

0.250%, 10/06/14

     4,000         4,000,000   

Societe Generale, New York(a)(c)

     

0.326%, 09/19/14

     3,000         3,000,000   

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., New York

  

0.250%, 09/12/14

     2,750         2,749,992   

0.250%, 10/14/14

     7,000         7,000,042   

0.250%, 12/11/14

     4,000         4,000,000   

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd., New York

  

0.250%, 10/22/14

     5,000         5,000,000   

Toronto Dominion Bank, New York

     

0.250%, 10/08/14

     3,000         3,000,000   

Westpac Banking Corp., New York(a)

     

0.229%, 10/08/14

     10,000         10,000,000   
     

 

 

 
        179,573,022   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT

  

  

(Cost $217,573,022)

        217,573,022   
     

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL PAPER—38.5%

     

Asset Backed—13.5%

     

Barton Capital LLC(d)

     

0.180%, 10/23/14

     8,000         7,997,920   

Bedford Row Funding Corp.(d)

     

0.300%, 11/25/14

     5,000         4,996,458   

CHARTA LLC(d)

     

0.180%, 11/10/14

     4,000         3,998,600   

0.250%, 02/04/15

     6,000         5,993,500   

Collateralized Commercial Paper II Co. LLC(d)

  

0.300%, 02/09/15

     5,000         4,993,292   

0.300%, 03/16/15

     5,000         4,991,833   

Fairway Finance Co. LLC(d)

     

0.220%, 02/06/15

     4,000         3,996,138   

Matchpoint Master Trust(d)

     

0.100%, 09/04/14

     8,000         7,999,933   

Old Line Funding LLC(d)

     

0.220%, 12/05/14

     4,000         3,997,678   

0.220%, 12/22/14

     5,000         4,996,578   

0.220%, 01/26/15

     4,000         3,996,407   

Sheffield Receivables Corp.(d)

     

0.180%, 10/22/14

     5,000         4,998,725   

Starbird Funding Corp.(d)

     

0.100%, 09/02/14

     10,000         9,999,972   

Thunder Bay Funding LLC(d)

     

0.220%, 02/06/15

     5,000         4,995,172   
     

 

 

 
     77,952,206   
     

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

3


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

     Par
(000)
     Value  

COMMERCIAL PAPER—(Continued)

     

Banks—24.4%

     

ANZ New Zealand International, Ltd.(a)

  

0.245%, 04/15/15

   $ 5,000       $     5,000,000   

0.246%, 06/04/15

     5,000         5,000,000   

Bank of Nova Scotia(d)

     

0.245%, 02/10/15

     4,000         3,995,590   

0.270%, 05/15/15

     2,000         1,996,160   

BNZ International(d)

     

0.165%, 09/26/14

     3,000         2,999,656   

BPCE SA(d)

     

0.230%, 11/03/14

     3,000         2,998,793   

Commonwealth Bank of Australia(a)

     

0.235%, 11/20/14

     1,450         1,450,000   

0.236%, 03/23/15

     5,000         5,000,000   

0.242%, 05/20/15

     3,000         3,000,000   

Credit Agricole North America, Inc.(d)

     

0.250%, 09/12/14

     4,000         3,999,695   

Credit Suisse, New York(d)

     

0.300%, 11/25/14

     5,000         4,996,517   

DNB Bank ASA(d)

     

0.050%, 09/02/14

     8,000         7,999,989   

Generale Electric Capital Corp.(d)

     

0.210%, 02/10/15

     8,000         7,992,440   

HSBC Bank PLC(a)

     

0.257%, 09/09/14

     3,000         3,000,000   

0.257%, 09/11/14

     3,000         3,000,000   

0.246%, 11/19/14

     5,000         5,000,000   

0.229%, 05/08/15

     3,000         3,000,000   

ING US Funding LLC(d)

     

0.250%, 09/02/14

     10,000         9,999,931   

0.230%, 11/10/14

     5,000         4,997,764   

0.250%, 12/05/14

     4,000         3,997,361   

Macquarie Bank Ltd.(d)

     

0.321%, 02/19/15

     4,000         3,993,920   

National Australia Bank Ltd., Delaware(a)

  

0.234%, 08/11/15

     5,000         5,000,000   

National Australia Bank Ltd., New York(a)

  

0.248%, 08/27/15

     3,000         3,000,000   

Natixis US Finance Co., LLC, New York(d)

  

0.100%, 09/02/14

     6,000         5,999,983   

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank NV(a)

     

0.227%, 07/09/15

     5,000         5,000,000   

Nordea Bank AB(d)

     

0.215%, 01/21/15

     4,000         3,996,608   

0.210%, 01/27/15

     5,000         4,995,683   

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, New York(d)

  

0.220%, 10/31/14

     3,430         3,428,742   

0.235%, 01/13/15

     5,460         5,455,224   
     Par
(000)
     Value  

COMMERCIAL PAPER—(Continued)

     

Banks—(Continued)

     

Westpac Banking Corp.

  

0.227%, 10/30/14(a)

   $   4,000       $ 4,000,000   

0.300%, 01/02/15(d)

     2,000         1,997,950   

0.243%, 04/17/15(a)

     5,000         5,000,000   
     

 

 

 
     141,292,006   
     

 

 

 

Other Commercial Paper—0.6%

  

CPPIB Capital, Inc.(d)

     

0.300%, 02/09/15

     3,200         3,195,706   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER

     

(Cost $222,439,918)

        222,439,918   
     

 

 

 

MUNICIPAL BONDS—6.7%

     

California—1.1%

     

California Housing Finance Agency Revenue, Series A, RB (LOC: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac)(a)(c) 0.040%, 09/03/14

     2,700         2,700,000   

San Francisco, City & County Redevelopment Agency, Multifamily Revenue, Series A, RB (LOC: Fannie Mae)(a)(c)
0.050%, 09/04/14

     3,700         3,700,000   
     

 

 

 
     6,400,000   
     

 

 

 

New Jersey—0.8%

     

New Jersey State, Housing & Mortgage Financial Agency Revenue, Variable Amount Single Family Housing, Series V (SPA—BNP Paribas)(a)(c) 0.060%, 09/04/14

     4,800         4,800,000   
     

 

 

 

New York—3.4%

     

New York City, Industrial Development Agency Civic Facility Revenue, New York Law School Project, Series A, RB (LOC: JPMorgan Chase Bank)(a)(c)
0.050%, 09/04/14

     4,335         4,335,000   

New York State Dormitory Authority, City University, Series D, RB (LOC: TD Bank NA)(a)(c) 0.040%, 09/04/14

     4,950         4,950,000   

New York State, Housing Finance Agency Revenue, RB (LOC: Freddie Mac)(a)(c)
0.040%, 09/03/14

     5,200         5,200,000   

Westchester County, Health Care Revenue, RB (LOC: TD Bank NA)(a)(c)
0.080%, 09/03/14

     5,000         5,000,000   
     

 

 

 
     19,485,000   
     

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

4


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Schedule of Investments (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

     Par
(000)
     Value  

MUNICIPAL BONDS—(Continued)

     

Tennessee—1.4%

     

Eclipse Funding Trust, Various 2007-0005-Solar Eclipse-Blount, RB (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) 144A(a)(c)
0.050%, 09/04/14

   $ 7,965       $ 7,965,000   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS

  

  

(Cost $38,650,000)

          38,650,000   
     

 

 

 

VARIABLE RATE OBLIGATIONS—0.8%

  

Banks—0.8%

     

Svenska Handelsbanken AB(a)

     

0.285%, 02/13/15

     4,900         4,900,000   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL VARIABLE RATE OBLIGATIONS

  

  

(Cost $4,900,000)

        4,900,000   
     

 

 

 

AGENCY OBLIGATIONS—1.9%

     

Fannie Mae

     

0.125%, 02/27/15(a)

     6,000         5,999,260   

Federal Home Loan Bank(d)

     

0.077%, 09/17/14

     5,000         4,999,829   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL AGENCY OBLIGATIONS

  

  

(Cost $10,999,089)

        10,999,089   
     

 

 

 

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS—9.0%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills(d)

     

0.080%, 09/11/14

     8,000         7,999,817   

0.050%, 10/16/14

     5,000         4,999,681   

0.110%, 01/08/15

     3,190         3,188,654   

0.120%, 04/02/15

     5,000         4,996,421   

0.101%, 05/28/15

     5,000         4,996,245   

0.113%, 06/25/15

     5,000         4,995,359   

U.S. Treasury Notes

     

0.250%, 10/31/14

     13,000         13,003,170   

2.375%, 10/31/14

     8,000         8,028,953   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS

  

(Cost $52,208,300)

        52,208,300   
     

 

 

 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS—5.4%

  

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (Tri-Party Agreement dated 08/29/14 to be repurchased at $16,000,107, collateralized by $14,935,000 par value, Federal National Mortgage Backed Security, 5.000%, due 03/15/2016, Fair Value of the collateral is $16,320,188) 0.060%, 09/02/14

     16,000         16,000,000   
     Par
(000)
     Value  

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS—(Continued)

  

Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC (Tri-Party Agreement dated 08/29/14 to be repurchased at $15,000,100, collateralized by $17,987,361 par value, various U.S. Government Sponsored Agency Obligations, 1.500%-6.000%, due 02/19/2020-05/15/2040, Fair Value of the collateral is $15,300,000) 0.060%, 09/02/14

   $ 15,000       $ 15,000,000   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

  

  

(Cost $31,000,000)

        31,000,000   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS AT VALUE—100.0%

  

(Cost $577,770,329)*

        577,770,329   
     

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF
LIABILITIES—0.0%

        61,043   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS (APPLICABLE TO 577,274,472 BEDFORD SHARES AND 550,778 SANSOM STREET SHARES)—100.0%

      $ 577,831,372   
     

 

 

 

 

* Aggregate cost is the same for financial reporting and Federal tax purposes.

 

(a) Variable Rate Security. Rate shown is as of report date.

 

(b) Issuer is a US branch of a foreign domiciled bank.

 

(c) Rate shown is as of report date and the date shown is date on which principal and accrued interest may be recovered through demand.

 

(d) Rate disclosed represents the discount rate at the time of purchase.

 

LOC Line of Credit
PLC Public Liability Company
RB Revenue Bond
SPA Stand-by Purchase Agreement
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

5


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (Cost $ 546,770,329)

   $ 546,770,329   

Repurchase agreements, at value (Cost $31,000,000)

     31,000,000   

Receivables

  

Interest receivable

     192,137   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     25,204   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     577,987,670   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payables

  

Due to custodian

     4,178   

Distribution to shareholders

     43   

Investment advisory and administration fees

     58,697   

Professional fees

     36,322   

Printing fees

     13,561   

Transfer agent fees

     11,148   

Distribution fees (Bedford Class)

     9,796   

Regulatory administration fees

     8,065   

Custodian fees

     7,662   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     2,242   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     4,584   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     156,298   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 577,831,372   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

  

Par Value

   $ 577,825   

Paid-in Capital

     577,247,401   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments

     6,146   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 577,831,372   
  

 

 

 

BEDFORD CLASS

  

Net assets

   $ 577,280,614   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 1,500,000,000 shares authorized)

     577,274,472   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 1.00   
  

 

 

 

SANSOM STREET CLASS

  

Net assets

   $ 550,758   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 1,500,000,000 shares authorized)

     550,778   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 1.00   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

6


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Interest

   $ 1,233,986   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     1,233,986   
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Distribution fees (Bedford Class)(1)

     4,044,422   

Investment advisory and administration fees

     2,554,548   

Custodian fees

     138,338   

Professional fees

     96,447   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     49,939   

Transfer agent fees

     49,043   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     45,783   

Regulatory administration fees

     45,079   

Registration and filing fees

     35,213   

Insurance fees

     22,395   

Other expenses

     16,655   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers

     7,097,862   

Less: Advisory and administration waivers

     (2,062,868

Less: Distribution fee waivers (Bedford Class)

     (3,919,978
  

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers

     1,115,016   
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     118,970   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain from investments

     9,732   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 128,702   
  

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 2 in Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

7


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31,

2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31,

2013
 

Increase in net assets:

    

From operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 118,970      $ 74,478   

Net realized gain from investments

     9,732        16,418   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     128,702        90,896   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

    

Net investment income:

    

Bedford Class

     (118,780     (74,298

Sansom Street Class

     (190     (180

Net realized gains:

    

Bedford Class

     (14,277     (16,199

Sansom Street Class

     (24     (16
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (133,271     (90,693
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions (at $1.00 per share):

    

Proceeds from shares sold:

    

Bedford Class

     346,384,760        457,230,576   

Sansom Street Class

     1,720,768        1,025,683   

Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions:

    

Bedford Class

     131,670        89,452   

Sansom Street Class

     175        175   

Shares repurchased:

    

Bedford Class

     (424,543,678     (443,718,982

Sansom Street Class

     (1,787,703     (648,367
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets derived from capital transactions

     (78,094,008     13,978,537   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase/(decrease) in net assets

     (78,098,577     13,978,740   

Net assets:

    

Beginning of year

     655,929,949        641,951,209   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 577,831,372      $ 655,929,949   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

    

Shares sold

    

Bedford Class

     346,384,760        457,230,576   

Sansom Street Class

     1,720,768        1,025,683   

Shares reinvested

    

Bedford Class

     131,670        89,452   

Sansom Street Class

     175        175   

Shares repurchased

    

Bedford Class

     (424,543,678     (443,718,982

Sansom Street Class

     (1,787,703     (648,367
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding

     (78,094,008     13,978,537   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

8


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Financial Highlights

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout each Year)

 

    The Bedford Class  
    For the
Year

Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year

Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2012
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2011
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
 

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from investment operations:

         

Net investment income

    0.0002        0.0001        0.0003        0.0002        0.0003   

Net gains (losses) on securities

    (a)      (a)      (a)      (a)      (a) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net income from investment operations

   
0.0002
  
    0.0001        0.0003        0.0002        0.0003   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

         

Net investment income

    (0.0002     (0.0001     (0.0003     (0.0002     (0.0003

Net realized gains

    (a)      (a)                      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distribution to shareholders

    (0.0002     (0.0001     (0.0003     (0.0002     (0.0003
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return

    0.02%        0.02%        0.03%        0.02%        0.03%   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of year
(000’s omitted)

  $ 577,281      $ 655,312      $ 641,711      $ 721,145      $ 593,570   

Ratios of expenses to average
net assets(b)

    0.18%        0.24%        0.25%        0.27%        0.31%   

Ratios of net investment income
to average net assets

    0.02%        0.01%        0.02%        0.02%        0.02%   

 

(a) Amount is less than $0.00005 per share.

 

(b) Without the waiver of advisory fees, distribution fees, and/or reimbursement of certain operating expenses, the ratios of expenses to average net assets for the Bedford Class of the Money Market Portfolio would have been 1.14%, 1.15%, 1.15%, 1.12% and 1.18% for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

9


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Financial Highlights (Concluded)

(For a Share Outstanding Throughout each Year)

 

    The Sansom Street Class  
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2012
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2011
    For the
Year
Ended
August 31, 2010
 

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from investment operations:

         

Net investment income

    0.0004        0.0004        0.0004        0.0006        0.0010   

Net gains (losses) on securities

    (a)      (a)      (a)      (a)      (a) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net income from investment operations

   
0.0004
  
    0.0004        0.0004        0.0006        0.0010   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

         

Net investment income

    (0.0004     (0.0004     (0.0004     (0.0006     (0.0010

Net realized gains

    (a)      (a)                      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

    (0.0004     (0.0004     (0.0004     (0.006     (0.0010
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00      $ 1.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return

    0.04%        0.04%        0.05%        0.06%        0.10%   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of year
(000’s omitted)

  $ 551      $ 618      $ 240      $ 19,520      $ 37,708   

Ratios of expenses to average
net assets(b)

    0.16%        0.21%        0.23%        0.23%        0.24%   

Ratios of net investment income
to average net assets

    0.04%        0.04%        0.04%        0.06%        0.09%   

 

(a) Amount is less than $0.00005 per share.

 

(b) Without the waiver of advisory fees and reimbursement of certain operating expenses, the ratios of expenses to average net assets for the Sansom Street Class of the Money Market Portfolio would have been 0.49%, 0.50%, 0.50%, 0,47% and 0.54% for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

 

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Money Market Portfolio (“Portfolio”).

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio. The Portfolio has issued shares with a par value of $0.001.

SECURITY VALUATION — Securities held in the Portfolio are valued under the amortized cost method, which approximates fair value. Under this method, securities are valued at cost when purchased and thereafter a constant accretion of discount or amortization of premium is recorded until maturity of the security. Regular review and monitoring of the valuation is performed to ensure that cost continues to approximate fair value and to avoid dilution or other unfair results to shareholders. The Portfolio seeks to maintain net asset value (“NAV”) per share at $1.00.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS — The inputs and valuations techniques used to measure fair value of the Portfolio’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of net assets).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Portfolio’s net assets carried at fair value:

 

     Total
Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 577,770,329       $   —       $ 577,770,329       $   —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for further details on portfolio holdings.

Securities held in the Portfolio are valued at amortized cost, in accordance with rules under the 1940 Act. Generally, amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security, but since the value is not obtained from a quoted price in an active market, such securities are reflected as Level 2.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Portfolio’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of

 

11


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Portfolio may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Portfolio to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchases and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Portfolio to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Portfolio had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Portfolio had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Portfolio.

SECURITY TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME, AND EXPENSES — The Portfolio records security transactions based on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes. Interest income is accrued when earned. Certain expenses, such as distribution fee and service organization fees, are class specific expenses and vary by class. Expenses not directly attributable to a specific portfolio or class are allocated based on relative net assets of each portfolio and class. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family (in proportion to net assets). Expenses incurred for all portfolios within the Company (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all portfolios in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Portfolio.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income are declared daily, recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid monthly. All dividends from net investment income are taxed as ordinary income. Any net realized capital gains are distributed at least annually. Income subject to dividends and capital gain subject to distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES — No provision is made for federal income taxes. It is the Company’s intention to have the Portfolio continue to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from federal income and excise taxes.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS — Money market instruments may be purchased from financial institutions, such as banks and non-bank dealers, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed upon date and price. Collateral for repurchase agreements may have longer maturities than the maximum permissible remaining maturity of portfolio investments, provided the repurchase agreements themselves mature in 13 months or less. The seller is required on a daily basis to maintain the value of the securities subject to the agreement at no less than the repurchase price. The agreements are conditioned upon the collateral being deposited under the Federal Reserve book entry system or held in a separate account by the Portfolio’s custodian or an authorized securities depository. In the event the counterparty defaults and the fair value of the collateral declines, the Portfolio could experience losses, delays and costs in liquidating the collateral.

Master Repurchase Agreements (“MRA”) permit the Portfolio, under certain circumstances, including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset payables and/or receivables under the MRA with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due to or from the Portfolio. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of the MRA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Pursuant to the terms of the MRA, the Portfolio receives or posts

 

12


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

securities as collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price to be paid or received by the Portfolio upon the maturity of the transaction. Upon a bankruptcy or insolvency of the MRA counterparty, the Portfolio would recognize a liability with respect to such excess collateral to reflect the Portfolio’s obligation under bankruptcy law to return the excess to the counterparty.

The Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements. The gross value and related collateral received for these investments are presented in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments and the value of these investments is also presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral held by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements as of August 31, 2014.

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Portfolio considers liquid assets deposited with a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Portfolio expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Portfolio may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Portfolio’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Portfolio in the future and therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss for such claims is considered remote.

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement, BlackRock Advisors LLC (the “Adviser” or “BALLC”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., serves as investment adviser and administrator for the Portfolio.

BALLC (assignee of BlackRock Institutional Management Corporation) and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc, (“BNY Mellon”), have entered into a delegation agreement on behalf of the Portfolio, wherein BNY Mellon has agreed to perform administration and accounting services for an annual fee of 0.10% of the average net assets of the Portfolio, paid out of the fee paid to BALLC.

For its advisory services, BALLC is entitled to receive the following fees, computed daily and payable monthly, and based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Annual Rate

0.45% of first $250 million of net assets;

0.40% of next $250 million of net assets; and

0.35% of net assets in excess of $500 million.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses for the Portfolio such that total annual Portfolio operating expenses after fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (excluding certain Portfolio expenses) do not exceed 0.25%. The following expenses are excluded from the contractual limitation: dividend expenses, interest expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, distribution and service (12b-1) fees and certain other Portfolio expenses. This contractual limitation is in effect through December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Adviser may terminate this arrangement at any time after December 31, 2014.

 

13


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

For each class of shares within the Portfolio, the net advisory fee charged to each class is the same on a relative basis. For the year ended August 31, 2014, advisory fees and waivers were as follows:

 

Gross Advisory
and
Administration
Fee
     Waiver     Net Advisory
and
Administration
Fee
 
  $2,554,548       $ (2,062,868   $ 491,680   

As of August 31, 2014, the Portfolio owed BALLC $58,697 in advisory and administration fees.

For providing regulatory administration services to RBB, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Portfolio’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon.

The Bank of New York Mellon provides certain custodian services to the Portfolio and is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon.

BNY Mellon may also voluntarily waive a portion of their fees and/or reimburse expenses.

The Portfolio, on behalf of the Bedford Class of shares of the Portfolio, has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”). The Portfolio has entered into a Distribution Agreement with Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (“Foreside Distributors”).

The Plan provides for the Bedford Class to make monthly payments, based on average net assets, to Foreside Distributors of up to 0.65% on an annualized basis. Foreside Distributors may voluntarily waive these fees at its discretion. For the year ended August 31, 2014, distribution fees received by Foreside Distributors for the Bedford Class were as follows:

 

     Gross
Distribution
Fee
       Waiver      Net
Distribution
Fee
 

Bedford Class

   $ 4,044,422         $ (3,919,978    $ 124,444   

The Portfolio will not pay BALLC, BNY Mellon or Foreside Distributors at a later time for any amounts waived or assumed.

3. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The remuneration paid to the Directors by the Portfolio during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $28,337. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Portfolio or the Company.

4. Federal Income Tax Information

The Portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Therefore, no federal tax provision is required.

The Portfolio has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Portfolio to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Portfolio has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Portfolio is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

 

14


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

The tax-basis cost of investments equals the book-basis cost of investments of $577,770,329.

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

As of August 31, 2014, the Portfolio had $6,146 of undistributed ordinary income for federal tax purposes.

The difference between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains for Federal income tax purposes. Short-term capital gains are reported as ordinary income dividends for Federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the last two fiscal years was as follows:

 

     Ordinary
Income
 

2014

   $ 133,271   

2013

     90,693   

Dividends paid from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Portfolio is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no capital loss carryforwards.

5. New Accounting Pronouncement

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

On July 23, 2014, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to money market fund regulations, which structurally change the way that certain money market funds will be required to operate. These amendments are generally not effective until sometime in 2016, but when implemented may affect the Portfolio’s operations and may affect the Portfolio’s return potential.

6. Other

As of August 31, 2014, the Portfolio had one omnibus shareholder account (comprising a group of individual shareholders) which held 98.36% of the total shares outstanding of the Bedford Class of the Portfolio and represents 98.26% of the total net assets of the Portfolio.

7. Subsequent Event

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Portfolio through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

15


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. and Shareholders of The RBB Fund, Inc. Money Market Portfolio:

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The RBB Fund, Inc. Money Market Portfolio, a separately managed portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) at August 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at August 31, 2014 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. The financial highlights for the one year in the period ended August 31, 2010 were audited by other independent accountants whose report, dated October 25, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 27, 2014

 

16


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

 

Certain tax information regarding the Portfolio is required to be provided to shareholders based upon the Portfolio’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014. During the year ended August 31, 2014, the Portfolio paid $133,271 of ordinary income dividends to its shareholders. Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

A total of 0.31% of dividends distributed during the fiscal year was derived from interest on U.S. government securities, which is exempt from state income tax.

The percentage of qualified interest income related dividends not subject to withholding tax for non-resident aliens and foreign corporations is 99.21%.

Because the Portfolio’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Portfolio, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Portfolio.

 

17


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Additional Information

(Unaudited)

 

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Portfolio uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Portfolio voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling the number shown below and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

Bedford

   (800) 888-9723

Sansom Street

   (800) 430-9618

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarter of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered the renewal of the investment advisory and administration agreement between BALLC and the Company (the “Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement”) on behalf of the Portfolio at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement for an additional one-year term. The Board’s decision to approve the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement. In approving the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement, the Board considered information provided by the Adviser with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between the Company and BALLC with respect to the Portfolio, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of BALLC’s services provided to the Portfolio; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of BALLC’s personnel providing those services; (iii) BALLC’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) BALLC’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) BALLC’s trade allocation policies; (vi) BALLC’s current advisory fee arrangement with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) BALLC’s compliance procedures; (viii) BALLC’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Portfolio; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Portfolio; (x) a report prepared by Lipper/Thompson Reuters (“Lipper”) comparing the Portfolio’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of the Portfolio to the performance of its Lipper peer group; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of the Portfolio to the performance of its benchmark.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BALLC. The Directors concluded that BALLC had substantial resources to provide services to the Portfolio and that BALLC’s services had been acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Portfolio and BALLC. Information on the Portfolio’s investment performance was provided since inception and for one-year, three-year, and five-year periods, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Directors noted that the performance of the Portfolio was comparable to the primary benchmark for the aforementioned periods. The Directors also reviewed the detailed information in the Lipper Report, for the one-year, two-year, three-year, four-year and five-year periods ended February 28, 2014, noting that the Fund’s performance ranked in the 1st quintile in its Lipper performance group for all periods and in the 1st quintile of its performance universe for all periods except the five-year period, where it ranked in the 2nd quintile. The Directors considered the Portfolio’s investment performance in light of

 

18


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Additional Information (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

its investment objective and investment strategies. The Directors concluded that the investment performance of the Portfolio as compared to its benchmark was acceptable.

The Directors also considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Portfolio under the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Portfolio and the Portfolio’s total operating expense ratio (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. The Directors also considered a Lipper comparison of the performance and expenses of the Portfolio to funds in its peer group, and noted BALLC’s agreement to waive advisory fees, and its intent to continue doing so.

After reviewing the information regarding BALLC’s costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering BALLC’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolio were fair and reasonable and that the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement should be approved and continued for an additional one-year period ending August 16, 2015.

 

19


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Company Management

(Unaudited)

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 430-9618.

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
 

Term of Office

and Length of
Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
           

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

  Director   1988 to present   Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).
           

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None
           

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).
           

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).
           

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None
           

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

  Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

20


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s)
Held
with Company
 

Term of Office

and Length of
Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
INTERESTED DIRECTORS2
           

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None
           

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).   23   Kensington Funds (registered investment company) (until 2009).
OFFICERS
           

Salvatore Faia, JD,

CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer   President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present   President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A
           

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A
           

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A
           

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A
           

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

 

Assistant

Secretary

  1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A

 

* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

21


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

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

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

•          Social Security number

•          account balances

•          account transactions

•          transaction history

•          wire transfer instructions

•          checking account information

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

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

 

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

For our everyday business purposes

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

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

  Yes   No
For joint marketing with other financial companies   Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your transactions and experiences

  Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your creditworthiness

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

 

Questions?   Call (800) 888-9723

 

22


THE RBB FUND, INC.

Money Market Portfolio

Privacy Notice (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

 

What we do

 
 
How does the Money Market Portfolio protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How does the Money Market Portfolio collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

•          open an account

•          provide account information

•          give us your contact information

•          make a wire transfer

•          tell us where to send the money

 

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

•          sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

•          affiliates from using your information to market to you

•          sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions

Affiliates  

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

 

•            Our affiliates include BlackRock Advisors LLC and other companies with a BlackRock name.

Nonaffiliates  

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

 

•            The Money Market Portfolio doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Portfolio may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

Joint marketing  

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

 

•            The Money Market Portfolio may share your information with other financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing arrangements who may suggest additional fund services or other investment products which may be of interest to you.

 

23


 

[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

 

 


Investment Adviser

BlackRock Advisors LLC

100 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


 

 

BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP

GROWTH FUND

of THE RBB FUND, INC.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Fund.


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

ANNUAL INVESTMENT ADVISERS REPORT

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

Fellow Shareholder:

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) Investor Class of shares advanced +29.28%, the Institutional Class of shares gained +29.34%, both net of fees, outperforming by over eleven percentage points the Fund’s benchmark, the unmanaged Russell 2000® Index of small cap stocks, which returned +17.68%. The Fund’s periodic returns and returns since inception are shown in the charts on pages five and six (returns are calculated as the growth of the dollar value of a minimum investment made at the inception of the Fund, compared to the same investment in the benchmark). The balance of this letter covers the market environment, performance attribution, Fund characteristics, and a Bogle Investment Management, L.P. business update.

Market Environment. U.S. equity markets delivered positive performance for the fiscal year in a period that exhibited relatively lower volatility. The fiscal year started strongly with both the Fund and its benchmark Russell 2000® Index delivering positive performance in five out of the first six months of the period, and by February 28, 2014 the Fund’s Investor shares had risen +21.34% while the Russell 2000® Index was up +17.75%. Volatility increased slightly in the last six months of the period as the Russell 2000® Index see-sawed down -4.53% over March and April, up +6.16% over May and June, down -6.05% in July, and up +4.96% in August. Although the Fund’s net returns exhibited a similar up and down pattern, it outperformed its benchmark in five out of the last six months of the fiscal year delivering +6.54% compared to the -0.06% return for the Russell 2000® Index.

For much of the fiscal year investors tended to favor stable stocks with lower betas and price volatility over more volatile, higher beta stocks. These preferences are reflected in the large cap Russell 1000® Index outperforming the small cap Russell 2000® Index by over seven percentage points (up +25.36% versus +17.68%), and by value stocks generally outperforming growth stocks, with the Russell 2000® Value Index advancing +18.10%, compared with the Russell 2000® Growth Index returning +17.30%. The entire amount of small cap underperformance took place in the last five months of the fiscal year. Market volatility, as measured by the VIX level of implied, expected, volatility, remained below longer-term averages, though we observed a few spikes during the fiscal year when investors suffered from some bouts of increased anxiety. Volatilities of the Fund and the Russell 2000® Index, as measured by standard deviation of returns, were also below long-term averages.

Performance Attribution. For the fiscal year, the Fund’s Investor Class of shares outperformed the benchmark Russell 2000® Index by +11.60%, net of all fees, and the Institutional Class of shares outperformed by +11.66%, net of all fees. The Fund’s outperformance is attributed largely to positive stock selection, as common factor exposure effects were minimal. The economic sectors of the stocks that were most productive for the Fund were finance and technology services (names with large positive contributions were Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR), Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT), and Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH)). As usual, we also suffered our share of losers, notably Multimedia Games Holding Company, Inc. (MGAM), Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND), and Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NUS), and while consumer services stocks had the worst overall performance, losses did not have any strong tendency to be concentrated in any one or two sectors.

While we provide this information on specific stock and sector performance, it is also important to evaluate the various components of the decision process that led to these results. Our investment process, viewed through a wide angle lens, continues to be driven by a proprietary stock selection model that combines insights from longer-term fundamental financial data with non-fundamental, often shorter-term data. This combination can be thought of, conceptually, as the exploitation of investment opportunities created, primarily, by stocks with attractive financial characteristics that are not fully understood by the market, and secondarily, by opportunistically trading these securities when market data indicate that there is a statistical probability that their current prices will either revert toward, or start to diverge from, their short-term equilibrium price levels.

 

1


Stocks that our model finds attractive will typically have some or many of the following characteristics when compared to their closest peers: more attractive free cash flow, less leverage and more transparent financial statements, more conservative accounting, organic improvement in their underlying businesses, less expensive share prices, improving earnings outlooks, and less controversy. Our non-fundamental models consider recent share price volatility and direction, trading volume, and other market data to determine whether or not a stock is likely to diverge from or regress toward its shorter-term equilibrium level. Our fundamental models tend to work best when markets are focused more on discriminating between similar stocks than on broader macroeconomic themes that tend to result in investors moving into or out of groups or portfolios of stocks in unison. During these latter environments we expect our non-fundamental signals to add value by finding both a greater number of opportunities from, and greater likelihood of success with, mispricings caused by structurally-driven trading. Although fundamental and non-fundamental models both added value during the fiscal year, different models paid off at different points in time. Given the market environment during the fiscal year, and consistent with model tendencies, our fundamental models contributed the most to our outperformance.

While the wide angle view of our investment process has been consistent over our fifteen year history of managing assets, zooming in on the details shows significant enhancements to what data we analyze, how we process the data to try to separate information from noise, and how we effect the portfolio changes that are determined by our investment signals. Over the almost fifteen year life of the Fund we have added many new sources of company and stock data, attempting to glean insights into not-fully-discounted changes in future corporate financial performance and stock price movements. Certain data have been collected and archived in real-time due to not being available from conventional data vendors, and as our history with these data deepens with the passage of time, we are able to more robustly evaluate its effectiveness in complementing and improving our stock selection process. Technological improvements have allowed us to evaluate more and larger data sets more efficiently than before, giving us a greater number of testing results per unit of time. But while we are in some sense more productive in testing new ideas, we are as careful and deliberate as ever in our discipline in making changes to the investment process. We continue to set high hurdles for the level of confidence in our understanding of the behavioral underpinnings and their persistence that create investment opportunities, statistical evidence consistent with this understanding, and the amount of time, particularly out-of-sample, that must pass before we add a new idea to the model. Of course, this care is applied equally to decisions about removing a component from the model. Through decades of experience managing assets, we appreciate more than less-seasoned investors the dynamism of markets and how easy it is to be fooled into thinking “the world has changed.” Our entire investment process has gone through, and will certainly again experience periods, perhaps quite long and painful, of underperformance. Likewise, individual model components can deliver extended periods of negative contributions to the overall process. We have probably a greater tendency than most to be patient with these episodes, and not quickly make changes to what we are doing, believing that the more painful the experience, the more likely it is to be driven by temporarily manic market behavior that will inevitably abate, providing uncommonly good opportunities to be rewarded for that patience. This conviction comes not from tests; it comes from experiencing it with your and our real world investments. The discipline applied to our stock selection models is also seen in our implementation of the investment process. In the early days of the strategy, we managed portfolios by assessing the data underlying stocks’ rankings compared with other stocks, then created trade lists that were traded over the course of each day by various trading desks. While it was a disciplined process then, we have made it even more systematic by developing software to do the data validation more quickly and with more rigor. We have also extended our research deeper into the trading process to identify better methods of seeking market liquidity in the names we are trading. Many of these advancements, along with our discipline and deliberation in making decisions have contributed to our recent performance. But despite gratifying returns, we know that contentedness is the enemy of future success, so the investment team continues to spend most of its time researching new ideas that we hope will continue to add value for our shareholders.

 

2


Fund Characteristics. As of the end of the fiscal year, the Fund held 214 stocks, with the largest holding representing 1.58% of net assets. As shown in the table to the right, the Fund looks similar to the benchmark across a variety of fundamental risk characteristics. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund’s median market capitalization was somewhat larger than the benchmark. We attribute this to holding on to some of our top performing stocks which have increased in market capitalization as they have grown, while the Russell 2000® Index gets reconstituted each year by having its largest stocks “graduate” to the larger cap Russell 1000® Index. Compared to the Russell 2000® Index, the Fund continued to have a small exposure, at the median, toward companies with modestly higher expected long-term earnings growth rates, and a below-benchmark allocation to slower growing stocks (8% of Fund assets were invested in stocks with expected earnings growth less than 9%/year, while the benchmark allocation was 22%). We believe this modest growth bias provides a long-term benefit to investment returns as our investment models tend to perform better among higher growth stocks. Finally, the Fund’s median price-to-earnings and price-to-sales ratios were below benchmark, reflecting the influence of our relative valuation model.

FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
AUGUST 31, 2014
 

Median

   BOGLX*      Russell
2000®
Index
 

Median Market Cap. ($mil.)

     $2,501         $1,640   

Price/Historical Earnings

     20.2x         21.8x   

Price/Forward Earnings

     17.4x         18.0x   

Price/Sales

     1.4x         2.2x   

* The Bogle Small Cap Growth Fund Investor Shares. Median characteristics refer to the Fund’s holdings, not the Fund itself.

    

 

RISK STATISTICS*
FISCAL YEAR PERIOD
 

Measurement

   BOGLX      Russell
2000®

Index
 

Standard Deviation

     16.8%         15.0%   

Active Volatility

     4.9%        

Beta with Russell 2000® Index

     1.08         
* Risk statistics apply to the Fund and benchmark. Standard deviation is a statistical measure of the range of performance. Active risk is the standard deviation of the difference between the Fund and benchmark performance. Beta is a measure of a portfolio’s sensitivity to market movements.        
 

 

The Fund’s annualized active volatility (the variability of the difference between Fund and benchmark performance, also called “tracking error”) was 4.9% in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, below the Fund’s long-term average of 6.8%. The lower number indicates that the value we added in the fiscal year over the benchmark was more consistent than average. The Fund’s beta with the Russell 2000® Index, at approximately 1.1, was slightly higher than its long-term average of 1.0.

Self-Assessment. As part of our belief in candor and honesty, each year we take a hard, objective look at how well we have performed for you, both in investment results and the quality of service the Fund’s operations team provides. For the most recent fiscal year, we give ourselves high marks for investment performance. We added value over our benchmark, and this relative performance accrued steadily over the course of the year. Investment ideas and implementation enhancements we have been making over the past five years have helped improve investment returns compared to the benchmark and increased the consistency of those relative returns. The effectiveness of our core investment concepts, and enhancements we have made over time to the details and implementation, can be seen in longer periods as well. As of the end of this fiscal year, the Fund has beaten the Russell 2000® Index by an average of five percentage points, per year, over the past three and five year periods, and by over four percentage points per year since the inception of the Fund almost fifteen years ago. This long-term performance has resulted in a cumulative net return of 496% for the Fund’s Investor Class of shares, more than twice the 234% cumulative return to the Russell 2000® Index.

While investment results are critical to your investor experience with us, our shareholder and investor services are important as well. We continue to work with BNY Mellon, giving them feedback that we have gotten from you as well as feedback from us directly based on our own experiences as fellow shareholders. We continue to encourage you to let us know how we can improve your shareholder experience.

Progress at Bogle Investment Management. At the end of August 2014, assets in the Fund were $234.5 million. This 33% increase from the end of fiscal year 2013 is due to investment performance as well as existing and new investors demonstrating their confidence and trust in us by adding to or making initial investments. Our investment team remains unchanged; the same five analysts we have always had continue to work together coming up with new ideas for improving our investment process. We enjoy working together and developing

 

3


together a virtually infinite series of ideas that we hope will make us better tomorrow than we are today. While delivering added value over long periods of time in this business is exceedingly difficult, we are committed to doing everything we can to be among the few firms that are able to do it.

More information about the Fund, including historical NAVs, sector allocation, fundamental characteristics, and top ten holdings, can be viewed on our website, www.boglefunds.com. NAVs are updated daily while other Fund information is updated quarterly. Fund information is also available on Morningstar.com and other internet-based financial data providers. We thank you for your ongoing support and, moreover, for the trust and confidence you have placed in us.

Respectfully,

Bogle Investment Management, L.P.

Management Office: 781-283-5000

Shareholder Services Toll Free: 1-877-BOGLEIM (264-5346)

 

The performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained at 1-877-264-5346. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence.

The Fund’s investment adviser, Bogle Investment Management, L.P., has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through December 31, 2014 to the extent that total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain expenses) exceed 1.25% and 1.35% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively. The Adviser, in its discretion, has the right to extend this waiver. The total expense ratios for the Institutional Class and Investor Class are 1.39% and 1.49%, respectively.

The Russell 2000® Index is an index of stocks 1001 through 3000 in the Russell 3000® Index as ranked by total market capitalization. A direct investment in the index is not possible. The Russell ® Indexes are a trademark of the Frank Russell Company (“FRC”). FRC is the owner of the copyrights relating to the Russell Indexes and is the source of the Performance Values for the Russell Indexes.

Investing in small companies can involve more volatility, less liquidity and less available information than investing in large companies.

Portfolio composition is subject to change. The current and future portfolio holdings of the Fund are subject to investment risk.

 

4


COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF $1,000,000 INVESTMENT IN BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS(1)(2) VS. RUSSELL 2000® INDEX (UNAUDITED)

 

LOGO

The performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained at 1-877-264-5346. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus dated December 31, 2013, is 1.39% for the Institutional Class prior to fee waivers.

 

(1) The chart and table assume a hypothetical $1,000,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on October 1, 1999 (inception) and reflect Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(2) Bogle Investment Management waived a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense limitation as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no waivers and reimbursements of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

(3) For the period October 1, 1999 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

 

5


COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND INVESTOR CLASS(1)(2) VS. RUSSELL 2000® INDEX (UNAUDITED)

 

LOGO

The performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained at 1-877-264-5346. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus dated December 31, 2013, is 1.49% for the Investor Class prior to fee waivers.

 

(1) The chart and table assume a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on October 1, 1999 (inception) and reflect Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(2) Bogle Investment Management waived a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense limitation as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no waivers and reimbursements of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions. Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so that your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

(3) For the period October 1, 1999 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

 

6


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLES

(UNAUDITED)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, shareholder servicing fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

ACTUAL EXPENSES

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

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying tables is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     INSTITUTIONAL CLASS  
     BEGINNING ACCOUNT VALUE
MARCH  1, 2014
       ENDING ACCOUNT VALUE
AUGUST  31, 2014
       EXPENSES PAID  DURING
PERIOD*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,065.80         $ 6.51   

Hypothetical
(5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,018.90           6.36   
     INVESTOR CLASS  
     BEGINNING ACCOUNT VALUE
MARCH  1, 2014
       ENDING ACCOUNT VALUE
AUGUST  31, 2014
       EXPENSES PAID  DURING
PERIOD*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,065.40         $ 7.03   

Hypothetical
(5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,018.40           6.87   

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized six-month expense ratio of 1.25% for the Institutional Class and 1.35% for the Investor Class, which includes waived fees or reimbursed expenses, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184) in the most recent fiscal half-year, then divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period. The Fund’s ending account values on the first line in each table are based on the actual six-month total investment return for each class of 6.58% for the Institutional Class and 6.54% for the Investor Class.

 

7


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY TABLE

AUGUST 31, 2014

(UNAUDITED)

The following table presents a summary by security type of the portfolio holdings of the Fund:

 

SECURITY TYPE & SECTOR CLASSIFICATION      OF NET
ASSETS
       VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS:

         

Consumer Growth

       18.2%         $ 42,718,109   

Financial

       17.5           41,017,480   

Technology

       16.1           37,779,275   

Consumer Cyclical

       13.9           32,467,053   

Industrial

       11.0           25,800,380   

Energy

       10.6           24,826,000   

Communications

       8.1           19,049,012   

Basic Industry

       3.5           8,262,252   

Utility

       1.0           2,375,935   

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

       1.3           3,044,026   

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

       (1.2)           (2,747,726
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

       100.0%         $ 234,591,796   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

8


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

COMMON STOCKS—99.9%

  

 

BASIC INDUSTRY—3.5%

  

 

Clearwater Paper Corp. *

    379      $ 26,226   

Constellium NV, Class A *

    42,463        1,209,346   

Endeavour Silver Corp. *

    422,828        2,355,152   

United States Steel Corp.

    51,299        1,982,706   

US Silica Holdings, Inc.

    33,158        2,381,076   

Xerium Technologies, Inc. *

    20,585        307,746   
   

 

 

 
    8,262,252   
   

 

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS—8.1%

  

 

ARRIS Group, Inc. *

    52,858        1,617,982   

Bitauto Holdings Ltd., ADR *

    42,112        3,698,697   

CDW Corp.

    53,545        1,769,127   

Constant Contact. Inc. *

    70,205        2,188,290   

CTC Media, Inc.

    123,075        1,117,521   

Earthlink Holdings Corp.

    39,117        161,553   

EchoStar Corp., Class A *

    35,272        1,778,767   

ePlus, Inc. *

    9,691        566,633   

Infosonics Corp. *

    3,099        6,570   

Intelsat SA *

    115        2,017   

Lee Enterprises, Inc. *

    14,139        57,404   

Liberty Ventures, Series A *

    31,160        1,186,884   

LogMein, Inc. *

    21,036        889,402   

Marchex, Inc., Class B

    15,042        129,060   

Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. *

    42,151        345,638   

Radio One, Inc., Class D *

    4,659        14,024   

RF Micro Devices, Inc. *

    210,732        2,627,828   

ShoreTel, Inc. *

    18,344        122,905   

Sohu.com, Inc. *

    12,989        767,130   

VASCO Data Security International, Inc. *

    107        1,580   
   

 

 

 
    19,049,012   
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER CYCLICAL—13.9%

  

 

Arctic Cat, Inc.

    53,510        1,980,939   

Barnes & Noble, Inc. *

    82,449        1,967,233   

Big Lots, Inc.

    41,862        1,940,304   

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. *

    412        5,372   

Citi Trends, Inc. *

    5,733        133,350   

Core-Mark Holding Co., Inc.

    55,850        2,689,736   

Dominion Diamond Corp. *

    41,786        565,365   

Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. *

    2,054        20,807   

Gentherm, Inc. *

    46,825        2,287,401   

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA, ADR

    87,264        536,674   

Harbinger Group, Inc. *

    7,036        91,116   

Kimball International, Inc., Class B

    19,829        314,885   
    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

CONSUMER CYCLICAL—(CONTINUED)

  

 

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc., Class A *

    31,160      $ 1,114,593   

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp. *

    19,152        1,141,268   

Meritor, Inc. *

    71,792        978,525   

Motorcar Parts of America, Inc. *

    1,523        46,177   

Pantry, Inc., (The) *

    32,350        684,850   

Penn National Gaming, Inc. *

    120,432        1,359,677   

Rite Aid Corp. *

    355,519        2,211,328   

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.

    74,079        825,981   

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

    101,930        2,119,125   

Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A *

    48,497        2,830,770   

Strattec Security Corp.

    534        42,848   

Tenneco, Inc. *

    33,783        2,164,815   

Tower International, Inc. *

    42,748        1,433,340   

Universal Electronics, Inc. *

    36,700        2,006,389   

VOXX International Corp. *

    1,774        17,563   

Zumiez, Inc. *

    29,571        956,622   
   

 

 

 
    32,467,053   
   

 

 

 

CONSUMER GROWTH—18.2%

  

 

Affymetrix, Inc. *

    116,918        1,013,678   

Alliance HealthCare Services, Inc. *

    5,548        157,841   

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. *

    40,678        1,708,476   

ARC Document Solutions, Inc. *

    4,485        36,418   

Avis Budget Group, Inc. *

    30,500        2,059,055   

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Class A *

    5,000        601,300   

Biocryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    41,537        560,750   

BioTelemetry, Inc. *

    5,750        42,090   

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

    8,357        661,122   

China Biologic Products, Inc. *

    380        20,186   

CONMED Corp.

    44,921        1,774,380   

Corvel Corp. *

    6,124        250,472   

CRA International, Inc. *

    6,617        178,064   

CTPartners Executive Search, Inc. *

    2,933        52,647   

Cytokinetics, Inc. *

    42,739        182,923   

Dyax Corp. *

    108,541        1,108,204   

Enzo Biochem, Inc. *

    12,557        74,714   

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    67,546        110,775   

EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    3,096        28,824   
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

9


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

CONSUMER GROWTH—(CONTINUED)

  

 

Euronet Worldwide, Inc. *

    35,668      $ 1,901,104   

Farmer Bros. Co. *

    1,138        26,595   

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. *

    146        1,698   

Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. *

    58,207        454,597   

Health Net, Inc. *

    48,716        2,299,395   

HealthSouth Corp.

    57,586        2,268,313   

Hill International, Inc. *

    14,118        62,119   

ICON PLC *

    46,029        2,280,277   

Information Services Group, Inc. *

    18,283        77,703   

Ingles Markets, Inc., Class A

    718        18,122   

K12, Inc. *

    36,096        679,688   

Korn/Ferry International, Inc. *

    71,089        2,150,442   

Lannett Co., Inc. *

    25,499        1,004,151   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. *

    89,859        1,973,304   

Mannatech, Inc. *

    422        5,600   

Manpowergroup, Inc.

    25,350        1,966,653   

MoneyGram International, Inc. *

    68,346        960,945   

Natus Medical, Inc. *

    23,041        647,683   

Nektar Therapeutics *

    169,157        2,412,179   

OncoGenex Pharmaceutical, Inc. *

    14,590        48,293   

OraSure Technologies, Inc. *

    21,476        178,895   

Orthofix International, N.V. *

    4,306        146,016   

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. *

    2,466        14,451   

PAREXEL International Corp. *

    5,448        307,485   

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. *

    119,891        3,581,144   

Prothena Corp PLC *

    9,389        215,008   

RadNet, Inc. *

    10,328        68,991   

Repligen Corp. *

    27,472        523,616   

Sanderson Farms, Inc.

    25,407        2,370,981   

SEI Investments Co.

    51,157        1,938,595   

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. *

    7,493        41,436   

Symmetry Medical, Inc. *

    23,230        214,181   

Thoratec Corp. *

    39,054        976,350   

Vascular Solutions, Inc. *

    167        3,991   

VIVUS, Inc. *

    6,733        28,885   

Willdan Group, Inc. *

    23,005        247,304   
   

 

 

 
    42,718,109   
   

 

 

 

ENERGY—10.6%

  

 

Abraxas Petroleum Corp. *

    71,490        422,505   

Callon Petroleum Co. *

    23,744        254,773   
    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

ENERGY—(CONTINUED)

  

 

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. *

    16,800      $ 1,053,696   

Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. *

    5,826        690,031   

Comstock Resources, Inc.

    108,286        2,640,013   

EnLink Midstream LLC

    42,882        1,762,450   

Jones Energy, Inc., Class A *

    24,719        475,099   

Murphy USA, Inc. *

    47,918        2,610,093   

Newfield Exploration Co. *

    45,558        2,041,910   

PetroQuest Energy, Inc. *

    216,508        1,441,943   

Pioneer Energy Services Corp. *

    127,351        1,958,658   

Precision Drilling Corp.

    155,027        1,970,393   

REX American Resources Corp. *

    21,166        2,261,164   

Seventy Seven Energy, Inc. *

    2,791        65,505   

SM Energy Co.

    26,570        2,365,793   

Superior Energy Services, Inc.

    63,537        2,277,166   

Warren Resources, Inc. *

    82,916        534,808   
   

 

 

 
    24,826,000   
   

 

 

 

FINANCIAL—17.5%

   

AerCap Holdings N.V. *

    76,839        3,646,010   

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd.

    27,242        1,434,019   

Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A

    700        38,836   

Assurant, Inc.

    29,682        1,981,274   

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

    34,312        828,635   

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

    43,678        2,106,153   

Calamos Asset Management, Inc., Class A

    94,124        1,213,258   

E*TRADE Financial Corp. *

    46,906        1,044,128   

Employers Holdings, Inc.

    11,348        242,961   

Erie Indemnity Co., Class A

    13,100        1,002,281   

FBR & Co. *

    18,008        514,669   

Federated National Holding Co.

    18,962        468,361   

First BanCorp Puerto Rico *

    10,700        55,747   

GAMCO Investors, Inc., Class A

    641        50,197   

Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A *

    178,518        2,533,170   

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A

    89,448        2,096,661   

INTL. FCStone, Inc. *

    21,075        404,219   

Investment Technology Group, Inc. *

    104,547        1,780,435   

Janus Capital Group, Inc.

    9,891        120,176   

Legg Mason, Inc.

    7,000        345,240   
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

FINANCIAL—(CONTINUED)

   

Manning & Napier, Inc.

    20,521      $ 381,075   

MBIA, Inc. *

    216,318        2,256,197   

Navigators Group, Inc., (The) *

    26,408        1,696,714   

Nelnet, Inc., Class A

    37,335        1,641,620   

OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd., Class A

    29,677        475,722   

PartnerRe Ltd.

    19,300        2,155,617   

Piper Jaffray Cos., Inc. *

    47,588        2,539,296   

Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.

    24,449        2,028,778   

Santander Consumer USA Holdings, Inc.

    54,226        1,009,688   

Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

    14,288        342,483   

Symetra Financial Corp.

    98,776        2,404,208   

Talmer Bancorp Inc., Class A

    960        14,074   

United Insurance Holdings Corp.

    20,498        330,838   

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., Class A

    26,799        1,460,546   

WSFS Financial Corp.

    5,016        374,194   
   

 

 

 
    41,017,480   
   

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL—11.0%

   

AEP Industries, Inc. *

    764        32,353   

AMERCO, Inc.

    7,946        2,207,478   

ArcBest Corp.

    54,289        1,948,975   

Argan, Inc.

    21,715        869,686   

Arotech Corp. *

    24,434        87,474   

Blount International, Inc. *

    21,670        346,287   

Broadwind Energy, Inc. *

    26,730        244,847   

China Digital TV Holding Co., Ltd., ADR

    40,687        166,410   

Federal Signal Corp.

    64,589        950,750   

Flextronics International Ltd. *

    186,673        2,060,870   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. *

    191,665        2,451,395   

Greenbrier Cos., Inc., (The)

    36,800        2,631,936   

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.

    18,372        1,875,965   

IDEX Corp.

    23,200        1,785,008   

ITT Corp.

    37,946        1,816,096   

Mueller Water Products, Inc., Class A

    175,378        1,618,739   

Navigator Holdings Ltd. *

    4,463        131,614   

Orbotech Ltd. *

    3,926        63,680   

PAM Transportation Services, Inc. *

    2,454        90,111   

Patrick Industries, Inc. *

    3,645        151,960   

Standex International Corp.

    100        7,463   
    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

INDUSTRIAL—(CONTINUED)

  

 

Tech Data Corp. *

    2,377      $ 160,448   

Trinity Industries, Inc.

    45,478        2,200,226   

VSE Corp.

    324        19,223   

Woodward, Inc.

    35,882        1,874,117   

ZAGG, Inc. *

    1,232        7,269   
   

 

 

 
    25,800,380   
   

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY—16.1%

   

Aspen Technology, Inc. *

    49,066        2,016,120   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

    277,156        2,923,996   

Cascade Microtech, Inc. *

    451        4,961   

ChipMOS Technologies Bermuda Ltd.

    8,850        211,781   

Digital River, Inc. *

    93,154        1,422,462   

Dot Hill Systems Corp. *

    2,677        9,744   

DST Systems, Inc.

    20,000        1,856,200   

EPAM Systems, Inc. *

    12,565        473,072   

Fair Isaac Corp.

    27,637        1,607,644   

Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. *

    121,657        2,135,080   

FormFactor, Inc. *

    24,115        169,770   

Infoblox, Inc. *

    89,584        1,204,905   

Insight Enterprises, Inc. *

    21,713        569,749   

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. *

    169,090        2,781,531   

Intersil Corp., Class A

    126,568        1,904,216   

Jive Software, Inc. *

    31,570        220,359   

Lattice Semiconductor Corp. *

    71,225        534,900   

Manhattan Associates, Inc. *

    75,279        2,174,058   

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

    134,645        1,872,912   

NetScout Systems, Inc. *

    22,720        1,046,710   

Omnicell, Inc. *

    69,283        1,950,316   

OmniVision Technologies, Inc. *

    106,124        2,877,022   

ON Semiconductor Corp. *

    212,998        2,078,860   

Silicon Image, Inc. *

    132,353        669,706   

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

    45,300        2,566,698   

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. *

    106,189        2,496,503   
   

 

 

 
    37,779,275   
   

 

 

 

UTILITY—1.0%

   

Dynegy, Inc. *

    68,527        2,239,462   

Pampa Energia SA, SP ADR *

    15,334        136,473   
   

 

 

 
    2,375,935   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $195,828,788)

   

    234,295,496   
   

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

11


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONCLUDED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

    NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  
   

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS—1.3%

  

 

BofA Cash Reserves Fund

    3,044,026      $ 3,044,026   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost $3,044,026)

   

    3,044,026   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—101.2%
(Cost $198,872,814)

   

    237,339,522   
   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER
ASSETS—(1.2)%

   

    (2,747,726
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

  

  $ 234,591,796   
   

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

ADR—American Depositary Receipt.

PLC—Public Limited Company

SP ADR—Sponsored American Depositary Receipt.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

12


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (cost $198,872,814)

   $ 237,339,522   

Receivables for:

  

Investments sold

     2,960,723   

Capital shares sold

     218,839   

Dividends and interest

     73,601   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     23,370   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     240,616,055   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     4,536,285   

Capital shares redeemed

     1,183,051   

Investment advisory fees and shareholder servicing fees

     176,481   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     128,442   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     6,024,259   
  

 

 

 

Net assets

   $ 234,591,796   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

  

Capital stock, $0.001 par value

   $ 6,213   

Paid-in capital

     172,213,369   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments

     23,905,506   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     38,466,708   
  

 

 

 

Net assets

   $ 234,591,796   
  

 

 

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

  

Net assets

   $ 117,922,559   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     3,097,543   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 38.07   
  

 

 

 

INVESTOR CLASS

  

Net assets

   $ 116,669,237   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     3,115,502   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 37.45   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

13


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2014

 

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $11,944)

   $ 1,288,715   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     1,288,715   
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fees

     2,195,800   

Administration and accounting fees

     311,319   

Transfer agent fees

     169,454   

Shareholder servicing fees (Investor Class)

     98,711   

Custodian fees

     75,561   

Professional fees

     58,109   

Registration and filing fees

     39,134   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     28,430   

Insurance fees

     9,662   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     8,690   

Other expenses

     10,390   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers

     3,005,260   

Less: waivers

     (161,799
  

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers

     2,843,461   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (1,554,746
  

 

 

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN FROM INVESTMENTS

  

Net realized gain from investments

     36,367,817   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     18,834,972   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     55,202,789   
  

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

   $ 53,648,043   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

14


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2014
     FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2013
 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

     

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ (1,554,746    $ 444,946   

Net realized gain from investments

     36,367,817         27,538,811   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     18,834,972         12,575,436   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     53,648,043         40,559,193   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

     

Net investment income:

     

Institutional Class

     (211,232        

Investor Class

     (92,941        
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (304,173        
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS DERIVED FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:

     

Institutional Class

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     37,241,140         42,247,780   

Reinvestment of distributions

     205,141           

Distributions for shares redeemed

     (47,869,174      (12,679,166
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from Institutional Class

     (10,422,893      29,568,614   

Investor Class

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     31,368,704         11,489,567   

Reinvestment of distributions

     87,771           

Distributions for shares redeemed

     (16,267,560      (11,672,816
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from Investor Class

     15,188,915         (183,249
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     4,766,022         29,385,365   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     58,109,892         69,944,558   

NET ASSETS

     

Beginning of year

     176,481,904         106,537,346   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 234,591,796       $ 176,481,904   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income, end of year

   $       $ 304,173   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

15


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (CONCLUDED)

 

     FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2014
     FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2013
 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN SHARES OUTSTANDING DERIVED FROM SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

     

Institutional Class

     

Shares sold

     1,084,194         1,605,385   

Shares reinvested

     6,207           

Shares redeemed

     (1,346,938      (481,557
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from Institutional Class

     (256,537      1,123,828   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investor Class

     

Shares sold

     913,039         432,705   

Shares reinvested

     2,698           

Shares redeemed

     (475,125      (465,512
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from Investor Class

     440,612         (32,807
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in shares outstanding

     184,075         1,091,021   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each class of shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

     INSTITUTIONAL CLASS  
     FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/14
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/13
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/12
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/11
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/10
 

PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

          

Net asset value, beginning of year

   $ 29.49      $ 21.76      $ 19.38      $ 14.81      $ 14.03   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)*

     (0.23     0.10        (0.04     (0.10     (0.07

Net realized and unrealized gain
from investments

     8.87        7.63        2.42        4.67        0.85   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting
from operations

     8.64        7.73        2.38        4.57        0.78   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.06                            
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (0.06                            
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

   $ 38.07      $ 29.49      $ 21.76      $ 19.38      $ 14.81   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(1)

     29.34     35.52     12.28     30.86     5.56
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

          

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

   $ 117,923      $ 98,898      $ 48,526      $ 38,274      $ 31,714   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements

     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and reimbursements

     1.32     1.39     1.51     1.44     1.51

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets

     (0.66 )%      0.37     (0.21 )%      (0.48 )%      (0.48 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

     175.06     237.59     288.88     302.71     196.03

 

* Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

(1) 

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

17


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each class of shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

     INVESTOR CLASS  
     FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/14
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/13
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/12
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/11
    FOR  THE
YEAR
ENDED
8/31/10
 

PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

          

Net asset value, beginning of year

   $ 29.00      $ 21.42      $ 19.10      $ 14.61      $ 13.86   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)*

     (0.26     0.07        (0.07     (0.12     (0.09

Net realized and unrealized gain
from investments

     8.74        7.51        2.39        4.61        0.84   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting
from operations

     8.48        7.58        2.32        4.49        0.75   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.03                            
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (0.03                            
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

   $ 37.45      $ 29.00      $ 21.42      $ 19.10      $ 14.61   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(1)

     29.28     35.39     12.15     30.73     5.41
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

          

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

   $ 116,669      $ 77,584      $ 58,011      $ 74,155      $ 48,446   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
with waivers and reimbursements

     1.35     1.35     1.35     1.35     1.35

Ratio of expenses to average net assets
without waivers and reimbursements

     1.43     1.49     1.60     1.54     1.62

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to
average net assets

     (0.76 )%      0.27     (0.36 )%      (0.58 )%      (0.58 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

     175.06     237.59     288.88     302.71     196.03

 

* Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

(1) 

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

18


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”), which commenced investment operations on October 1, 1999. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund offers two classes of shares, Institutional Class and Investor Class.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

PORTFOLIO VALUATION — The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by RBB’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS — The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

  • Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

  • Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

  • Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:

      Total
Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS*

     $237,339,522         $237,339,522         $                    —         $                    —   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* See Portfolio of Investments for detail on portfolio holdings.

 

19


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Fund that require disclosure.

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES — The Fund records security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund’s net investment income (other than class specific shareholder servicing fees) and unrealized and realized gains and losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family (in proportion to net assets). Expenses incurred for all of the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, will be declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

 

 

20


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is the Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Fund considers liquid assets deposited into bank demand deposit accounts to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

 

2. INVESTMENT ADVISER AND OTHER SERVICES

Bogle Investment Management, L.P. (the “Adviser” or “Bogle”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. For its advisory services, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly fee from the Fund calculated at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.25% and 1.35% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively. In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements at any time after December 31, 2014.

The contractual fee waiver does not provide for recoupment of fees that were waived or expenses that were reimbursed. For the year ended August 31, 2014, investment advisory fees and waivers of the Fund were as follows:

 

GROSS
ADVISORY FEES
    WAIVERS     NET
ADVISORY FEES
 
$ 2,195,800      $ 134,352      $ 2,061,448   

The Fund will not pay the Adviser at a later time for any amounts waived or any amounts assumed.

In addition to serving as the Fund’s investment adviser, Bogle provides certain shareholder services to the Investor Class of the Fund. As compensation for such services, the Adviser receives a monthly fee equal to an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Fund. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

BNY Mellon has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its administration and accounting fees for the Fund. For the year ended August 31, 2014, administration and accounting fees and waivers of the Fund were as follows:

 

GROSS ADMINISTRATION
AND  ACCOUNTING
FEES
    WAIVERS     NET ADMINISTRATION
AND  ACCOUNTING
FEES
 
$ 311,319      $ 27,447      $ 283,872   

 

 

21


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Included in the administration and accounting services fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimum monthly fees and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Fund. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

The Fund will not pay The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation or any of its members or BNY Mellon’s affiliates at a later time for any amounts waived or any amounts assumed.

 

3. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer, meeting fees and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses for meetings attended. The remuneration paid to the Directors by the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $14,281. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Fund or the Company.

 

4. INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES

For the year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Fund were as follows:

 

INVESTMENT SECURITIES  
PURCHASES     SALES  
$ 382,955,295      $ 378,798,659   

 

5. FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION

The Fund has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Fund to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Fund is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Fund were as follows:

 

FEDERAL TAX
COST
    UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
    UNREALIZED
DEPRECIATION
    NET UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
 
$ 199,271,935      $ 41,194,183      $ (3,126,596   $ 38,067,587   

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net

 

22


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONCLUDED)

 

assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to short-term capital gains netted against net operating loss, were reclassified among the following accounts:

 

UNDISTRIBUTED
NET  INVESTMENT
INCOME/(LOSS)
    ACCUMULATED
NET REALIZED
GAIN/(LOSS)
    PAID-IN
CAPITAL
 
$ 1,554,746      $ (1,554,746   $   

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

CAPITAL LOSS
CARRYFORWARD
    UNDISTRIBUTED
ORDINARY INCOME
    UNDISTRIBUTED
LONG-TERM GAINS
    UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
 
$      $ 11,234,764      $ 13,069,863      $ 38,067,587   

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reported as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividend and distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

 

      ORDINARY
INCOME
 
  2014      $ 304,173   
  2013          

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

Pursuant to federal income tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies, the Fund may elect to treat certain capital losses between November 1 and August 31 and late year ordinary losses ((i) ordinary losses between January 1 and August 31, and (ii) specified ordinary and currency losses between November 1 and August 31) as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the year ended August 31, 2014, any amount of losses elected within the tax return will not be recognized for federal income tax purposes until September 1, 2014.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law.

As of August 31, 2014, the Fund did not have any pre- or post-enactment capital loss carryforwards. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund utilized $10,532,621 of pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards.

 

6. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

23


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. and Shareholders of the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund:

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund, a separately managed portfolio of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) at August 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at August 31, 2014 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 27, 2014

 

24


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

SHAREHOLDER TAX INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

 

Certain tax information regarding the Fund is required to be provided to shareholders based upon the Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund paid $304,173 of ordinary income dividends to its shareholders. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund did not pay any long-term capital gains dividends to its shareholders. Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends qualifying for the 15% dividend tax rate is 100.00%.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction is 100.00%.

The percentage of qualified interest related dividends not subject to withholding tax for non-resident aliens and foreign corporations is 0.07%.

Because the Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Fund, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

 

25


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

 

PROXY VOTING

Policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (877) 264-5346 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO SCHEDULES

The Company files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (202) 551-8090.

APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered the renewal of the investment advisory agreement between Bogle and the Company (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreement reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement. In approving the Advisory Agreement, the Board considered information provided by the Adviser with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Company and Bogle with respect to the Fund, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of Bogle’s services provided to the Fund; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of Bogle’s personnel providing those services; (iii) Bogle’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) Bogle’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) Bogle’s soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) Bogle’s current advisory fee arrangement with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) Bogle’s compliance procedures; (viii) Bogle’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Fund; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Fund; (x) a report prepared by Lipper comparing the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its Lipper peer group; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its benchmark.

 

 

26


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

OTHER INFORMATION (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Bogle. The Directors concluded that Bogle had substantial resources to provide services to the Fund and that Bogle’s services were acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Fund and Bogle. Information on the Fund’s investment performance was provided since inception and for one-year, three-year, and five-year periods, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Directors noted that each class of the Fund had outperformed the Fund’s primary benchmark for all periods. The Directors noted that the investment performance of the Fund was in the top quintile as compared to its Lipper peer group and Lipper universe for the one-, two-, three-, four-, and five-year periods ended February 28, 2014.

The Directors also considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) was compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. The Directors noted that the contractual advisory fees of the Fund were equal to the peer group median, and the actual advisory fees of the Fund were slightly lower than the peer group median. In addition, the Directors noted that Bogle has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through December 31, 2014 to the extent that total annual Fund operating expenses exceed 1.25% and 1.35% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, and that Bogle expects to continue these fee waivers and expense reimbursements.

After reviewing the information regarding the Fund’s costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering Bogle’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Fund were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreement should be approved and continued for an additional one-year period ending August 16, 2015.

 

27


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT

(UNAUDITED)

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (877) 264-5346.

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held

with Company

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
   

Other

Directorships

Held by Director

During Past

5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 7/33

  Director   1988 to present   Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.     23      AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.     23      None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).     23      Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.     23      Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 5/48

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to Present

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.     23      None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 3/41

  Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.     23      Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

28


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
 

Position(s)

Held

with Company

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
   

Other

Directorships

Held by Director

During Past

5 Years

INTERESTED DIRECTORS2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.     23      None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).     23      None
OFFICERS

Salvatore Faia, JD,

CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer  

President 2009

to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004

to Present

  President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.     N/A      N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).     N/A      N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.     N/A      N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).     N/A      N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103
DOB: 7/59

 

Assistant

Secretary

  1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).     N/A      N/A

 

* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1. 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2. 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

29


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PRIVACY NOTICE

(UNAUDITED)

 

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

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

•          Social Security number

•          account balances

•          account transactions

•          transaction history

•          wire transfer instructions

•          checking account information

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

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information   Does the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund share?   Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes

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

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

  Yes   No
For joint marketing with other financial companies   No   We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your transactions and experiences   Yes   No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness   No   We don’t share
For our affiliates to market to you   No   We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you   No   We don’t share

 

Questions?   Call (877) 264-5346 or go to www.boglefunds.com

 

30


BOGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

PRIVACY NOTICE (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

What we do

 
 
How does the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How does the Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

•          open an account

•          provide account information

•          give us your contact information

•          make a wire transfer

•          tell us where to send the money

 

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

•          sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

•          affiliates from using your information to market to you

•          sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions

Affiliates  

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

 

•            Our affiliates include Bogle Investment Management, L.P.

Nonaffiliates  

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

 

•            The Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Fund may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

Joint marketing  

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

 

•            The Bogle Investment Management Small Cap Growth Fund does not jointly market.

 

31


Investment Adviser

Bogle Investment Management, L.P.

2310 Washington Street

Suite 310

Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square

Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


 

FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

of

THE RBB FUND, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT

August 31, 2014

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Funds. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Funds.


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder,

Enclosed is your annual report for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2014.

Domestic and international, both developed and emerging markets, financial markets over the past year experienced significant positive returns. Markets over the past year have been influenced by several factors. The end of 2013 was generally positive for developed market stocks, while fixed income and emerging market investments struggled as the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) tapering became increasingly imminent. When the central bank ultimately announced its tapering plans, equity investors reacted positively, as this action signaled the Fed’s perception of improvement in the economy. Financial markets continued to move higher in the first half of 2014 despite the gradual pull back in Fed stimulus. The year got off to a rocky start, however. A number of emerging market economies showed signs of stress due to currency weakness, debt problems and uneven growth rates. This stress caused bond markets to find renewed strength from investors seeking relatively safer assets. Although these headwinds persisted, equities were back on the rise in early 2014 as investors were encouraged by a one-year extension of the U.S. debt ceiling and market-friendly comments from the new Fed Chair, Janet Yellen. While it was clear that U.S. economic data had softened, investors continued to take on risk given expectations that growth would pick up later in the year. In the months that followed, interest rates trended lower and bond prices climbed higher. Tensions in Russia and Ukraine and signs of decelerating growth in China as well as a military coup in Thailand and continued violence in Iraq caused some turbulence, but markets were resilient as investors focused on better U.S. economic data and stronger corporate earnings. Additionally, investors were comforted by comments from the Fed offering reassurance that no changes to short-term interest rates were on the horizon. Despite all the rhetoric, the disciplined and diversified investor still did well for the twelve months ended August 31, 2014.

The Free Market Fixed Income Fund, the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, and the Free Market International Equity Fund had returns of 1.34%, 22.49% and 20.49%, respectively, for the twelve months ended August 31, 2014. These returns compared with a gain of 17.08% for the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index, a return of 21.45% for the unmanaged Russell 2500 Index, and a total return of 2.02% for the Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index.

Despite the short-term crosscurrents, seasoned investors, like Free Market Fund shareholders, who have stayed disciplined and diversified experienced positive returns for the past twelve month period. When you can take the long view, supported by a prudent and well-thought-out strategy, the markets’ day-to-day ups and downs don’t seem as threatening.

Matson Money strives to deliver the performance of capital markets and add value through Free Market Investment strategies and Structured Market Portfolios. Grounded in the conviction that free markets work, Matson Money avoids the cost-generating activity of stock picking and market timing. Instead, we focus on the dimensions of capital markets that reward investors as intelligently and effectively as possible. Our disciplined approach to life-long investing provides both the individual investor and the financial professional with the academic foundation upon which to help achieve investment goals.

Each Free Market Fund strategy targets a broad and diverse group of stocks or bonds across various markets, using other mutual funds that specifically target certain asset classes. The Funds are broadly diversified and designed to work together in your total investment plan.

The work is never complete, however, and Matson Money will continue to research solutions to address your future needs. We invite you to contact your financial professional or explore our website, www.MatsonMoney.com, to learn more about the concepts and strategies of Matson Money’s investing.

We appreciate your support and confidence in our firm’s investment philosophy, process and people. As always, we also appreciate your continued investment towards your long term goals.

Thank you for investing with Matson Money, Inc.

 

LOGO

Mark E. Matson

President and Chief Executive Officer

Matson Money, Inc.

 

1


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Free Market US Equity Fund—Investment Review

The twelve-month period ended August 31, 2014 proved rewarding for investors even though the global economy and financial markets experienced some volatility. U.S. and global stocks both performed well during the period. Despite headwinds in the early months of 2014, equities were back on the rise in February as investors were encouraged by a one-year extension of the U.S. debt ceiling and market-friendly comments from the new Fed Chair, Janet Yellen. While it was clear that U.S. economic data had softened, investors continued to take on risk. Tensions in Russia and Ukraine and signs of decelerating growth in China caused some turbulence, but markets were resilient as investors focused on better U.S. economic data and stronger corporate earnings. Nobody knows where the stock market will go from here, particularly in the shorter term. However, the magnitude and speed of the stock market’s recent swings underscore the importance of avoiding changes to your portfolio based on emotions. It also underscores the importance of maintaining a broadly diversified portfolio. Returns for the broad U.S. market, as measured by the Russell 3000 Index, were 24.74%. Asset class returns ranged from 25.25% for S&P 500 Index (U.S. large cap) to 17.68% for the Russell 2000 Index (U.S. small cap). Despite the ups and downs, all asset classes experienced positive returns for the period.

For the twelve months ended August 31, 2014, the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund provided a total return of 22.49%, at net asset value. This compares with a return of 21.45% for the fund’s benchmark, the Russell 2500 Index.

Nevertheless, as a result of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund’s diversified investment approach, performance principally was determined by broad structural trends in global equity markets, rather than the behavior of a limited number of stocks. Among the most important factors explaining differences in the behavior of diversified equity funds, like the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, are company size and company value/growth characteristics of the underlying fund holdings. Size is measured by market capitalization and “value” classification is a function of stock price relative to one or more fundamental characteristics.

U.S. large company stocks performed better than small company stocks. The Russell 2000 Index has returned 17.68% from September 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014, while the S&P 500 Index was up 25.25%. Furthermore, for the same time period, the Russell 2000 Value Index was up 18.10% and the Russell 1000 Value Index returned 24.43%.

In summary, U.S. large cap stocks performed better than small cap stocks but both were double digit returns. Furthermore, U.S. value stocks did better than U.S. growth stocks, which also contributed to returns of the Fund.

Today’s environment underscores that markets are highly unpredictable over the short term. In other words, anything can happen, so a balanced, diversified, long-term approach is favored.

 

2


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

                                         Free Market U.S. Equity Fund                                        

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund vs. Russell 2500® Index and Composite Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on December 31, 2007 (commencement of operations) and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Russell 2500® Index and Composite Index are unmanaged, do not incur sales charges and/or expenses and are not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
     Average Annual  
     1 Year     3 Years     5 Years     Since
Inception*
 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

    22.49%        21.51%        17.93%        10.08%   

Russell 2500® Index

    21.45%        20.31%        18.54%        9.12%   

Composite Index**

    21.14%        19.92%        16.56%        7.31%   

 

* Annualized — The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.
**

The Composite Index is comprised of the S&P 500® Index, Russell 1000® Value Index, Russell 2000® Index and Russell 2000® Value Index, weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-780-0357 ext. 3863. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 0.94% (included in the ratio is 0.32% attributable to acquired fund fees and expenses).

The Fund’s aggregate total return since inception is based on an increase in net asset value from $10.00 per share on December 31, 2007 (commencement of operations) to $17.37 per share on August 31, 2014.

The Free Market U.S. Equity Fund’s underlying funds invest in small-cap and micro-cap stocks, large-cap stocks and other equity securities. In addition to the ordinary risks of equity investing, small companies entail special risk. Small companies tend to have more risk than large companies. An investor in the Fund will incur the expenses of the underlying funds in addition to the Fund’s expenses.

 

3


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Free Market International Equity Fund—Investment Review

The global recovery continued for developed countries during the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2014, and was friendlier to emerging market countries compared to the prior twelve months. Tensions in Russia and Ukraine and signs of decelerating growth in China caused some turbulence, however, equity markets in the region still managed to produce double digit returns. In addition, returns for emerging markets experienced a significant turnaround from the previous year despite continued signs of slowing growth, and rising tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. Markets outside the U.S. were up despite all of the doom and gloom.

For the twelve months ended August 31, 2014, the Free Market International Equity Fund was up 20.49%, at net asset value. This compares with a return of 17.08% for the Fund’s benchmark, the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index. A contributing factor to the outperformance of the Fund compared to the benchmark was the Fund’s tilt towards small cap and value, as well as emerging markets.

As a result of the Free Market International Equity Fund’s diversified investment approach, performance principally was determined by broad structural trends in global equity markets, rather than the behavior of a limited number of stocks. Among the most important factors explaining differences in the behavior of diversified equity funds, like the Free Market International Equity Fund, are company size and company value/growth characteristics of the underlying fund holdings and broad exposure to emerging market equities.

International small company stocks fared better than international large company stocks. The MSCI EAFE Index (net of dividends) has returned 16.43% from September 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014, while the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index was up 18.68%. Furthermore, for the same time period, the MSCI EAFE Value Index (net of dividends) increased 18.83% versus the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Value Index at 20.14%, while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net of dividends) was up 19.94%.

In summary, factors that helped boost the Fund’s return compared to the benchmark included international small cap asset classes as well as international small cap value. International large cap and international large cap value asset classes also pulled the Fund’s performance higher. The Fund’s increased exposure, when compared to the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index, to small and value companies as well as emerging market country stocks contributed to the Fund’s higher return.

Today’s environment underscores that markets are highly unpredictable over the short term. In other words, anything can happen, so a balanced, diversified, long-term approach is favored.

 

4


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

                                         Free Market International Equity Fund                                        

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Free Market International Equity Fund vs. MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index and Composite Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on December 31, 2007 (commencement of operations) and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is a professionally managed mutual fund while the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index and Composite Index are unmanaged, do not incur sales charges and/or expenses and are not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
      Average Annual  
      1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      Since
Inception*
 

Free Market International Equity Fund

     20.49%         11.00%         9.01%         3.49%   

MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index

     17.08%         10.77%         8.29%         0.78%   

Composite Index**

     18.58%         10.15%         8.80%         1.43%   

 

* Annualized — The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.
** The Composite Index is comprised of the MSCI EAFE Index, MSCI EAFE Value Index, MSCI EAFE Small Company Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets Free Index, weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-780-0357 ext. 3863. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 1.18% (included in the ratio is 0.53% attributable to acquired fund fees and expenses).

The Fund’s aggregate total return since inception is based on an increase in net asset value from $10.00 per share on December 31, 2007 (commencement of operations) to $10.92 per share on August 31, 2014.

Portfolio composition is subject to change.

The Free Market International Equity Fund’s underlying funds invest in common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into stocks and other equity securities issued by foreign companies. In addition to the ordinary risks of equity investing, foreign and small companies entail special risk. The return on foreign equities may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations. Emerging markets may be subject to social instability and lack of market liquidity. Small companies tend to have more risk than large companies. An investor in the Fund will incur the expenses of the underlying funds in addition to the Fund’s expenses.

 

5


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund—Investment Review

The U.S. economy grew modestly during the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2014. Total unemployment persisted at elevated levels but maintained its improving trend. Monetary policy remains accommodative, but expectations for winding down the unprecedented policies created uncertainty. The Federal Open Market Committee did not make any changes to its policy of keeping the target for the federal funds rate near zero or its asset purchase program of buying agency mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities. With the end of the Federal Reserve’s “easy money” policy looming on the horizon, interest rate-sensitive assets in general still returned relatively low results. Non-U.S. fixed income performed roughly on par with U.S. fixed income. The broad proxy for the U.S. bond market, the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, produced a 5.66% total return for the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2014. In comparison, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Three Month Treasury Bill Index returned 0.05%.

The Free Market Fixed Income Fund focuses on mutual funds that invest in global high quality and shorter-term Government and Corporate fixed income assets. For the twelve-months ended August 31, 2014, the Free Market Fixed Income Fund provided a total return of 1.34%. This compares with a return of 2.02% for the Fund’s benchmark, the Citigroup World Government Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index.

The Free Market Fixed Income Fund performed slightly under its benchmark for the period but performed as expected. A contributing factor to the performance of the Fund compared to the benchmark was the Fund’s slightly lower exposure to certain global markets and more exposure to high quality U.S. Government Bonds.

 

6


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

                                         Free Market Fixed Income Fund                                        

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Free Market Fixed Income Fund vs. Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency

Hedged U.S. Dollar Index and Composite Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on December 31, 2007 (commencement of operations) and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index and Composite Index are unmanaged, do not incur sales charges and/or expenses and are not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
     Average Annual  
     1 Year     3 Years     5 Years     Since
Inception*
 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

    1.34%        0.57%        1.54%        1.93%   

Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged
U.S. Dollar Index

    2.02%        1.54%        1.81%        2.59%   

Composite Index**

    2.44%        1.34%        2.31%        2.84%   

 

* Annualized — The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.
** The Composite Index is comprised of the Three-Month Treasury Bill Index, Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index, BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Government/Corporate Index and Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index, weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-780-0357 ext. 3863. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 0.81% (included in the ratio is 0.19% attributable to acquired fund fees and expenses).

The Fund’s aggregate total return since inception is based on an increase in net asset value from $10.00 per share on December 31, 2007 (commencement of operations) to $10.31 per share on August 31, 2014.

Portfolio composition is subject to change.

The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying funds invest in fixed income securities. The underlying funds may invest their assets in bonds and other debt securities issued by domestic and foreign governments and companies. Debt instruments involve the risk that their prices will fall when interest rates rise, and they are subject to the risk that the borrower may default. In addition, the return on foreign debt securities may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations. An investor in the Fund will incur expenses of the underlying funds in addition to the Fund’s expenses.

 

7


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Fund Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund(s), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund(s) and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying tables is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Free Market U.S. Equity Fund  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,054.60         $ 3.11   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,022.18           3.06   
     Free Market International Equity Fund  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,024.40         $ 3.11   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,022.13           3.11   

 

 

8


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Fund Expense Examples (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

     Free Market Fixed Income Fund  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,004.40         $ 3.08   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,022.13           3.11   

 

* Expenses are equal to an annualized six-month expense ratio of 0.60% for the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, 0.61% for the Free Market International Equity Fund and 0.61% for the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period. The annualized expense ratios do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the underlying funds. If such fees and expenses had been included, the expenses would have been higher. The range of weighted expense ratios of the underlying funds held by the Funds, as stated in the underlying funds’ current prospectuses, were as follows:

 

Free Market U.S.
Equity Fund

  Free Market International
Equity Fund
  Free Market Fixed
Income Fund
0.01%-0.13%   0.01%-0.28%   0.01%-0.07%

Each Fund’s ending account values on the first line in each table are based on the actual six-month total return for each Fund of 5.46% for the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, 2.44% for the Free Market International Equity Fund and 0.44% for the Free Market Fixed Income Fund.

 

9


FREE MARKET FUNDS

FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

EQUITY FUNDS — 99.9%

   

U.S. Large Cap Value
Portfolio III(a)

    22,550,325      $ 583,376,913   

U.S. Large Company Portfolio(a)

    18,294,791        290,155,384   

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio(b)

    14,555,295        291,688,114   

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio(b)

    9,289,251        291,403,800   

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio(b)

    13,162,998        485,319,753   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY FUNDS (Cost $1,288,126,960)

      1,941,943,964   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.9%

   

(Cost $1,288,126,960)

      1,941,943,964   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 0.1%

      1,497,992   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

    $ 1,943,441,956   
   

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

(Unaudited)

 

    % of
Net Assets
    Value  

Equity Funds

    99.9%      $ 1,941,943,964   

Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities

    0.1%        1,497,992   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0%      $ 1,943,441,956   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(a) A portfolio of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.
(b) A portfolio of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


FREE MARKET FUNDS

FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS — 99.9%

  

 

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio(a)

    744,401      $ 18,505,800   

Canadian Small Company Series(b)

    1,329,990        17,904,597   

Continental Small Company Portfolio(a)

    1,461,065        30,872,303   

Continental Small Company Series(b)

    202,319        13,286,496   

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio(a)

    26,557,464        565,673,976   

DFA International Value
Portfolio III(c)

    24,384,029        424,038,259   

Emerging Markets Portfolio(a)

    2,612,245        75,023,681   

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio(a)

    3,036,885        69,514,302   

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio(a)

    2,270,284        69,561,513   

Japanese Small Company Portfolio(a)

    1,582,989        31,881,389   

Large Cap International Portfolio(a)

    3,082,502        70,466,001   

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio(a)

    234,276        9,007,931   

United Kingdom Small Company Series(b)

    273,004        17,083,557   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS
(Cost $1,170,272,488)

      1,412,819,805   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.9%

   

(Cost $1,170,272,488)

      1,412,819,805   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 0.1%

      1,798,397   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

    $ 1,414,618,202   
   

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

(Unaudited)

 

    % of
Net Assets
    Value  

International Equity Funds

    99.9%      $ 1,412,819,805   

Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities

    0.1%        1,798,397   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0%      $ 1,414,618,202   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(a) A portfolio of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.
(b) A portfolio of DFA Investment Trust Company.
(c) A portfolio of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

11


FREE MARKET FUNDS

FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

FIXED INCOME FUNDS — 99.5%

  

 

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    41,345,889      $ 456,045,161   

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio(a)

    7,542,393        91,036,688   

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    17,341,628        219,024,756   

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    43,314,834        447,009,088   

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio(a)

    13,652,264        145,806,174   

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    45,613,171        456,131,712   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL FIXED INCOME FUNDS (Cost $1,819,469,523)

      1,815,053,579   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.5%

   

(Cost $1,819,469,523)

      1,815,053,579   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 0.5%

      9,579,406   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

    $ 1,824,632,985   
   

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

(Unaudited)

 

    % of
Net Assets
    Value  

Fixed Income Funds

    99.5%      $ 1,815,053,579   

Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities

    0.5%        9,579,406   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0%      $ 1,824,632,985   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(a) A portfolio of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

12


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

     Free Market
U.S. Equity

Fund
     Free Market
International
Equity Fund
     Free Market
Fixed Income

Fund
 

ASSETS

        

Investments in non-affiliated funds, at value †

   $ 1,941,943,964       $ 1,412,819,805       $ 1,815,053,579   

Cash and cash equivalents

     1,548,544         1,612,165         9,250,775   

Receivables

        

Receivable for capital shares sold

     1,775,369         1,378,421         2,068,539   

Dividends and interest receivable

     14         9         40   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     30,818         28,317         38,498   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     1,945,298,709         1,415,838,717         1,826,411,431   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

        

Payables

        

Capital shares redeemed

     655,445         332,931         617,288   

Investment adviser

     790,741         543,248         760,522   

Administration and accounting fees

     152,264         118,461         145,723   

Transfer agent fees

     126,473         81,410         111,733   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     131,830         144,465         143,180   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,856,753         1,220,515         1,778,446   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,943,441,956       $ 1,414,618,202       $ 1,824,632,985   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF

        

Par value

   $ 111,859       $ 129,578       $ 176,936   

Paid-in capital

     1,230,308,085         1,145,135,137         1,823,948,090   

Undistributed / accumulated net investment income

     1,343,186         12,770,343         103,887   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments

     57,861,822         14,035,827         4,820,016   

Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments

     653,817,004         242,547,317         (4,415,944
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,943,441,956       $ 1,414,618,202       $ 1,824,632,985   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized)

     111,859,404         129,577,734         176,935,944   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 17.37       $ 10.92       $ 10.31   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

† Investment in non-affiliated funds, at cost

   $ 1,288,126,960       $ 1,170,272,488       $ 1,819,469,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

13


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Statements of Operations

For the Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

     Free Market
U.S. Equity

Fund
       Free Market
International
Equity Fund
       Free Market
Fixed Income
Fund
 

Investment Income

            

Dividends from non-affiliated funds

   $ 19,072,997         $ 30,329,206         $ 15,274,255   

Interest from non-affiliated funds

     187           190           785   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total investment income

     19,073,184           30,329,396           15,275,040   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Expenses

            

Advisory fees (Note 2)

     8,303,943           6,125,897           7,786,205   

Administration and accounting fees (Note 2)

     748,303           551,765           701,550   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

     389,167           289,783           365,576   

Professional fees

     230,300           173,732           217,139   

Custodian fees (Note 2)

     108,160           85,002           101,290   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     91,166           71,413           86,330   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     72,058           49,143           69,209   

Other expenses

     121,301           335,743           163,041   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total expenses

     10,064,398           7,682,478           9,490,340   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net investment income

     9,008,786           22,646,918           5,784,700   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

            

Net realized gain from:

            

Non-affiliated funds

     21,238,998           7,148,244           19,650   

Capital gain distributions from non-affiliated fund investments

     45,292,164           22,656,848           5,945,686   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on:

            

Non-affiliated funds

     247,588,404           154,746,684           8,828,057   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     314,119,566           184,551,776           14,793,393   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 323,128,352         $ 207,198,694         $ 20,578,093   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

14


FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the

Year Ended
August 31, 2014
     For the

Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase in net assets from operations:

     

Net investment income

   $ 9,008,786       $ 10,504,555   

Net realized gain from investments

     66,531,162         44,972,976   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments

     247,588,404         218,975,399   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     323,128,352         274,452,930   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

     

Net investment income

     (9,536,519      (12,059,460

Net realized capital gains

     (44,315,396      (6,612,476
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (53,851,915      (18,671,936
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     515,748,465         365,120,672   

Reinvestment of distributions

     53,851,915         18,671,936   

Shares redeemed

     (251,088,223      (217,434,730
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital shares

     318,512,157         166,357,878   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     587,788,594         422,138,872   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets:

     

Beginning of year

     1,355,653,362         933,514,490   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 1,943,441,956       $ 1,355,653,362   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income, end of year

   $ 1,343,186       $ 537,823   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

     

Shares sold

     31,414,367         27,274,386   

Dividends and distributions reinvested

     3,277,658         1,519,279   

Shares redeemed

     (15,298,894      (16,128,774
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in shares outstanding

     19,393,131         12,664,891   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

15


FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase in net assets from operations:

     

Net investment income

   $ 22,646,918       $ 16,197,219   

Net realized gain from investments

     29,805,092         12,763,765   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments

     154,746,684         104,634,778   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     207,198,694         133,595,762   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

     

Net investment income

     (21,275,248      (13,261,063

Net realized capital gains

     (16,001,172      (6,448,810
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (37,276,420      (19,709,873
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     391,563,874         290,005,224   

Reinvestment of distributions

     37,276,420         19,709,873   

Shares redeemed

     (148,239,892      (108,215,843
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital shares

     280,600,402         201,499,254   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     450,522,676         315,385,143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets:

     

Beginning of year

     964,095,526         648,710,383   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 1,414,618,202       $ 964,095,526   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income, end of year

   $ 12,770,343       $ 9,216,123   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

     

Shares sold

     36,958,338         32,070,579   

Dividends and distributions reinvested

     3,594,640         2,234,680   

Shares redeemed

     (13,995,432      (11,983,409
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in shares outstanding

     26,557,546         22,321,850   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16


FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

     

Net investment income

   $ 5,784,700       $ 5,775,226   

Net realized gain from investments

     5,965,336         4,618,659   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments

     8,828,057         (29,635,839
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     20,578,093         (19,241,954
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

     

Net investment income

     (6,397,117      (7,743,898

Net realized capital gains

     (3,094,776      (5,959,159
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (9,491,893      (13,703,057
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     654,712,458         515,861,880   

Reinvestment of distributions

     9,491,893         13,703,057   

Shares redeemed

     (167,456,841      (126,795,373
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital shares

     496,747,510         402,769,564   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     507,833,710         369,824,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets:

     

Beginning of year

     1,316,799,275         946,974,722   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 1,824,632,985       $ 1,316,799,275   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed/accumulated net investment income (loss), end of year

   $ 103,887       $ (258,616
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

     

Shares sold

     63,714,255         49,641,221   

Dividends and distributions reinvested

     928,801         1,315,155   

Shares redeemed

     (16,292,693      (12,178,076
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in shares outstanding

     48,350,363         38,778,300   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

17


FREE MARKET FUNDS

FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each share outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2010
 

Per Share Operating Performance

          

Net asset value, beginning of year

   $ 14.66      $ 11.70      $ 10.33      $ 8.65      $ 8.21   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(1)

     0.09        0.12        0.08        0.06        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     3.18        3.07        1.43        1.68        0.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  

 

3.27

  

 

 

3.19

  

    1.51        1.74        0.48   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.10     (0.15     (0.06     (0.06     (0.03

Net realized capital gains

     (0.46     (0.08     (0.08     (2)        

Tax return of capital

                                 (0.01
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (0.56     (0.23     (0.14     (0.06     (0.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

   $ 17.37      $ 14.66      $ 11.70      $ 10.33      $ 8.65   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

     22.49     27.61 %      14.77     20.11     5.88
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

   $ 1,943,442      $ 1,355,653      $ 933,514      $ 679,147      $ 485,191   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets(4)

     0.60     0.62 %      0.64     0.64     0.67

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(4)

     0.54     0.91 %      0.73     0.55     0.22

Portfolio turnover rate

     3     6 %      4     9     3

 

(1) The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.
(2) Amount less than $(0.005) per share.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

18


FREE MARKET FUNDS

FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each share outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2010
 

Per Share Operating Performance

          

Net asset value, beginning of year

   $ 9.36      $ 8.04      $ 8.78      $ 7.97      $ 8.02   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(1)

     0.19        0.18        0.18        0.16        0.11   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

     1.71        1.36        (0.64     0.78        (0.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     1.90        1.54        (0.46     0.94        0.07   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.19     (0.15     (0.17     (0.13     (0.09

Net realized capital gains

     (0.15     (0.07     (0.11            (0.03
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (0.34     (0.22     (0.28     (0.13     (0.12
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

   $ 10.92      $ 9.36      $ 8.04      $ 8.78      $ 7.97   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(2)

     20.49     19.44 %      (4.98 )%      11.60     0.86
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

   $ 1,414,618      $ 964,096      $ 648,710      $ 516,073      $ 365,465   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets(3)

     0.62     0.65 %      0.65     0.66     0.68

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(3)

     1.84     1.96 %      2.21     1.66     1.29

Portfolio turnover rate

     2     3 %      3     4     8

 

(1) The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.
(2) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(3) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

19


FREE MARKET FUNDS

FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each share outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2012
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2011
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2010
 

Per Share Operating Performance

          

Net asset value, beginning of year

   $ 10.24      $ 10.54      $ 10.48      $ 10.50      $ 10.35   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income(1)

     0.04        0.05        0.11        0.12        0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

     0.09        (0.21     0.09        0.09        0.27   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     0.13        (0.16     0.20        0.21        0.40   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.04     (0.08     (0.14     (0.22     (0.21

Net realized capital gains

     (0.02     (0.06     (2)      (2)      (0.04

Tax return of capital

                          (0.01       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (0.06     (0.14     (0.14     (0.23     (0.25
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

   $ 10.31      $ 10.24      $ 10.54      $ 10.48      $ 10.50   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

     1.34     (1.50 )%      1.90     2.06     3.96
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

          

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

   $ 1,824,633      $ 1,316,799      $ 946,975      $ 761,683      $ 459,282   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets(4)

     0.61     0.62 %      0.63     0.65     0.68

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(4)

     0.37     0.52 %      1.08     1.12     1.31

Portfolio turnover rate

     0     0 %      1     0     1

 

(1) The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.
(2) Amount less than $(0.005) per share.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) The Fund also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

20


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, the Free Market International Equity Fund, and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”). Each Fund operates as a “Fund of Funds” and commenced investment operations on December 31, 2007.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

PORTFOLIO VALUATION — Investments in the underlying funds are valued at each fund’s net asset value determined as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). As required, some securities and assets may be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. Direct investments in fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS — The inputs and valuations techniques used to measure fair value of the Funds’ investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

  •    Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

  •    Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

  •    Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Funds’ investments carried at fair value:

FREE MARKET U.S. EQUITY FUND

 

     Total Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Input
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Input
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 1,941,943,964       $ 1,941,943,964       $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

*Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details.

FREE MARKET INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

 

     Total Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Input
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Input
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 1,412,819,805       $ 1,364,545,155       $ 48,274,650       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

*Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details.

 

21


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

FREE MARKET FIXED INCOME FUND

 

     Total Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Input
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Input
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 1,815,053,579       $ 1,815,053,579       $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

*Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Funds’ investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Funds may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require each Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires a Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when a Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when a Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, for the Free Market International Equity Fund, there was a transfer of $48,274,650 from Level 1 to Level 2 due to a lack of observable inputs in the Fund’s investments in partnerships. For the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3.

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES — Transactions are accounted for on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The Funds estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered return of capital distributions or capital gain distributions. Each Fund’s investment income, expenses and unrealized and realized gains and losses are allocated daily. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family (in proportion to net assets). Expenses incurred for all of the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are

 

22


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of the Funds. In addition to the net annual operating expenses that the Funds bear directly, the shareholders indirectly bear the Funds’ pro-rata expenses of the underlying mutual funds in which each Fund invests.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on the ex-dividend date for all Funds with the exception of the Free Market Fixed Income Fund which declares and pays quarterly dividends from net investment income. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is each Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Funds consider liquid assets deposited with a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Funds in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss for such claims is considered remote.

 

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money” or the “Adviser”), serves as each Fund’s investment adviser. For its advisory services, Matson Money is entitled to receive 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Fund’s average daily net assets over $5 billion, computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Operating Expenses to 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund, respectively. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements at any time.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), serves as administrator for the Funds. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Funds’ average daily net assets and is subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Funds’ transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee subject to certain minimum and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides custodian services to the Funds. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee subject to certain minimum and out of pocket expenses.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

 

23


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

 

3. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors by the Funds during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $159,729. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Funds or the Company.

 

4. Investment in Securities

For the year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Funds were as follows:

 

     Purchases        Sales  

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   $ 372,662,906         $ 53,304,724   

Free Market International Equity Fund

     311,953,140           23,329,896   

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

     497,062,896           224,387   

 

5. Federal Income Tax Information

The Funds have followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Funds to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Funds have determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Funds are subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, the federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by each Fund were as follows:

 

     Federal Tax
Cost
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   $ 1,293,348,559       $ 653,817,004       $ (5,221,599    $ 648,595,405   

Free Market International Equity Fund

     1,182,392,673         246,411,056         (15,983,924      230,427,132   

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

     1,819,639,897         3,948,261         (8,534,579      (4,586,318

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to redesignation of dividends paid and reclassifications of short-term capital gain distributions, were reclassified among the following accounts:

 

     Undistributed
Net Investment
Income
       Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain/(Loss)
       Paid-In Capital  

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   $ 1,333,096         $ (1,333,096      $   

Free Market International Equity Fund

     2,182,550           (2,182,550          

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

     974,920           (974,920          

 

24


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

     Undistributed
Ordinary Income
       Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
       Other
Temporary
Differences
 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   $ 1,343,185         $ 63,083,422         $ 648,595,405         $   

Free Market International Equity Fund

     12,058,652           26,867,703           230,427,132             

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

     103,887           4,990,390           (4,586,318          

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate primarily to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reported as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

The tax characters of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

                Ordinary
Income
       Long-Term
Gains
       Total  

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

       2014         $ 9,536,519         $ 44,315,395         $ 53,851,914   
       2013           12,059,460           6,612,476           18,671,936   

Free Market International Equity Fund

       2014           21,275,248           16,001,172           37,276,420   
       2013           13,261,063           6,448,810           19,709,873   

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

       2014           6,397,117           3,094,776           9,491,893   
       2013           7,741,842           5,961,215           13,703,057   

Distributions from net investment income and short term capital gains are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Funds did not have any pre- or post-enactment capital loss carryforwards.

 

6. Subsequent Event

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

25


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. and Shareholders of the of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund, and Free Market Fixed Income Fund:

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, the Free Market International Equity Fund, and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, separately managed portfolios of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Funds”) at August 31, 2014, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at August 31, 2014 by correspondence with the transfer agent, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 27, 2014

 

26


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

 

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Ordinary
Income
       Long-Term
Gains
       Total  

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

   $ 9,536,519         $ 44,315,395         $ 53,851,914   

Free Market International Equity Fund

     21,275,248           16,001,172           37,276,420   

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

     6,397,117           3,094,776           9,491,893   

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

The percentage of total ordinary income dividends qualifying for the 15% dividend income tax rate is 71.38% for the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and 78.66% for the Free Market International Equity Fund.

The percentage of total ordinary dividends qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction is 70.24% for the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund.

The percentage of qualified interest income related dividends not subject to withholding tax for non-resident aliens and foreign corporations is 55.36% for the Free Market Fixed Income Fund. A total of 38.31% of the dividend distributed during the fiscal year was derived from U.S. Government securities, which is generally exempt from state income tax for the Free Market Fixed Income Fund.

Because each Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Funds, if any. The Free Market International Equity Fund passed through foreign tax credits of $1,708,381 and earned $31,022,380 of gross foreign source income during the fiscal year.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Funds.

 

27


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Other Information

(Unaudited)

 

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling Free Market Funds at (866) 780-0357, ext. 3863 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered the renewal of the investment advisory agreement between Matson Money, Inc. and the Company (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Funds at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreement reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement. In approving the Advisory Agreement, the Board considered information provided by the Adviser with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Company and Matson Money with respect to the Funds, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of Matson Money’s services provided to the Funds; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of Matson Money’s personnel providing those services; (iii) Matson Money’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) Matson Money’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) Matson Money’s current advisory fee arrangements with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vi) Matson Money’s compliance procedures; (vii) Matson Money’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Funds; (viii) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Funds; (ix) a report prepared by Lipper/Thompson Reuters (“Lipper”) comparing each Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its respective Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of each Fund to the performance of its respective Lipper peer group; and (x) a report comparing the performance of each Fund to the performance of its primary and composite benchmarks.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Matson Money, referring back to their discussion earlier in the Meeting during Matson Money’s presentation. The Directors concluded that Matson Money had substantial resources to provide services to the Funds and that Matson Money’s services had been acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Funds and Matson Money. Information on the Funds’ investment performance was provided since inception and for one-year, three-year, and five-year periods, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Directors considered the Funds’ investment performance in light of their investment objectives and investment strategies. The Directors concluded that the investment performance of each of the Funds as compared to their respective benchmarks and Lipper peer groups was acceptable. In reaching this conclusion, the Directors observed that the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund had outperformed its benchmark for the one-year, three-year, five-year and since inception

 

28


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Other Information (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

periods ended March 31, 2014, and the Free Market International Equity Fund had outperformed its benchmark for the year-to-date, one-year, five-year, and since inception periods ended March 31, 2014. The Directors, noted, however, that the Free Market Fixed Income Fund has regularly underperformed its primary benchmark (the CitiGroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index) since inception, as well as its Lipper peer group.

The Directors also considered the advisory fee rates payable by the Funds under the Advisory Agreement. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Funds and the Funds’ total operating expense ratios were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. The Directors recalled their earlier discussion about Matson Money’s advisory fees, and Matson Money’s statement that the Funds’ fees were at or below the average for their respective Morningstar fund categories.

After reviewing the information regarding the Funds’ costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering Matson Money’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Funds were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreement should be approved and continued for an additional one-year period ending August 16, 2015.

 

29


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Company Management

(Unaudited)

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 866-780-0357, ext. 3683.

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
 

Term of Office

and Length of
Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

  Director   1988 to present   Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

30


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Company Management (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
 

Term of Office

and Length of
Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

  Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).
INTERESTED DIRECTORS2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).   23  

None

OFFICERS

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208 Chadds Ford, PA 19317 DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer   President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present   President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A

 

31


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
 

Term of Office

and Length of
Time Served1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
OFFICERS

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

 

Assistant

Secretary

  1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A
* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

32


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

 

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

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

•            Social Security number

•            account balances

•            account transactions

•            transaction history

•            wire transfer instructions

•            checking account information

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

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information   Do the Free Market Funds share?   Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes

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

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

  Yes   No
For joint marketing with other financial companies   Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your transactions and experiences

  Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your creditworthiness

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

 

Questions?   Call (866) 573-2152 or go to www.MatsonMoney.com

 

33


FREE MARKET FUNDS

Privacy Notice (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

 

What we do

 
 
How does the Free Market Funds protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How does the Free Market Funds collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

•            open an account

•            provide account information

•            give us your contact information

•            make a wire transfer

•            tell us where to send the money

 

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

•            sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

•            affiliates from using your information to market to you

•            sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions

Affiliates  

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

 

•            Our affiliates include McGriff Video Productions and Matson Money, Inc.

Nonaffiliates  

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

 

•            The Free Market Funds don’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Funds may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

Joint marketing  

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

 

•            The Free Market Funds may share your information with other financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing arrangements who may suggest additional fund services or other investment products which may be of interest to you.

 

34


 

Investment Adviser

MATSON MONEY, INC.

5955 Deerfield Blvd.

Mason, OH 45040

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

of

THE RBB FUND, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT

August 31, 2014

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Funds. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Funds.


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

August 31, 2014

Dear Shareholders,

Domestic and international, both developed and emerging market, financial markets over the 12-month period ended August 31, 2014 experienced significant positive returns. Markets over the period have been influenced by several factors. The end of 2013 was generally positive for developed market stocks, while fixed income and emerging market investments struggled as the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) tapering became increasingly imminent. When the central bank ultimately announced its tapering plans, equity investors reacted positively, as this action signaled the Fed’s perception of improvement in the economy. Financial markets continued to move higher in the first half of 2014 despite the gradual pull back in Fed stimulus. The year got off to a rocky start, however. A number of emerging market economies showed signs of stress due to currency weakness, debt problems and uneven growth rates. This stress caused bond markets to find renewed strength from investors seeking relatively safer assets. Although these headwinds persisted, equities were back on the rise in early 2014 as investors were encouraged by a one-year extension of the U.S. debt ceiling and market-friendly comments from the new Fed Chair, Janet Yellen. While it was clear that U.S. economic data had softened, investors continued to take on risk given expectations that growth would pick up later in the year. In the months that followed, interest rates trended lower and bond prices climbed higher. Tensions in Russia and Ukraine and signs of decelerating growth in China as well as a military coup in Thailand and continued violence in Iraq caused some turbulence, but markets were resilient as investors focused on better U.S. economic data and stronger corporate earnings. Additionally, investors were comforted by comments from the Fed offering reassurance that no changes to short-term interest rates were on the horizon. Despite all the rhetoric the disciplined and diversified investor still did well for the twelve months ended August 31, 2014.

The Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio had returns of 7.16%, 3.28% and 0.32%, respectively, for the period February 18, 2014 (commencement of operation) through August 31, 2014. These returns compared with a return of 8.18% for the unmanaged Russell 2500® Index, a return of 7.95% for the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index, and a return of 1.00% for the Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index.

Despite the short-term crosscurrents, seasoned investors who have stayed disciplined and diversified experienced positive returns for the past twelve month period. When you can take the long view, supported by a prudent and well-thought-out strategy, the markets’ day-to-day ups and downs don’t seem as threatening.

Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money”) strives to deliver the performance of capital markets and add value through Free Market Investment strategies and Structured Market Portfolios. Grounded in the conviction that free markets work, Matson Money avoids the cost-generating activity of stock picking and market timing. Instead, we focus on the dimensions of capital markets that reward investors as intelligently and effectively as possible. Our disciplined approach to life-long investing provides both the individual investor and the financial professional with the academic foundation upon which to help achieve investment goals.

Each Matson Money VI Portfolio strategy targets a broad and diverse group of stocks or bonds across various markets, using other mutual funds that specifically target certain asset classes. The Portfolios are broadly diversified and designed to work together in your total investment plan.

The work is never complete, however, and Matson Money will continue to research solutions to address your future needs. We invite you to contact your financial professional or explore our website, www.MatsonMoney.com, to learn more about the concepts and strategies of Matson Money’s investing.

We appreciate your support and confidence in our firm’s investment philosophy, process and people. As always, we also appreciate your continued investment towards your long term goals.

Thank you for investing with Matson Money.

Mark E. Matson

President and Chief Executive Officer

Matson Money, Inc.

 

1


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio—Investment Review

The seven-month period ended August 31, 2014 proved rewarding for investors, even though the global economy and financial markets experienced some volatility. U.S. and global stocks both performed well for the 7 months ended August 31, 2014. Despite headwinds in the early months of 2014, equities were back on the rise in February as investors were encouraged by a one-year extension of the U.S. debt ceiling and market-friendly comments from the new Fed Chairwoman, Janet Yellen. While it was clear that U.S. economic data had softened, investors continued to take on risk. Tensions in Russia and Ukraine and signs of decelerating growth in China caused some turbulence, but markets were resilient as investors focused on better U.S. economic data and stronger corporate earnings. Nobody knows where the stock market will go from here, particularly in the shorter term. However, the magnitude and speed of the stock market’s recent swings underscore the importance of avoiding changes to your portfolio based on emotions. It also underscores the importance of maintaining a broadly diversified portfolio. Returns for the broad U.S. market, as measured by the Russell 3000® Index, were 12.79%. Asset class returns ranged from 13.82% for the S&P 500® Index (U.S. large cap) to 4.65% for the Russell 2000® Index (U.S. small cap). Despite the ups and downs for the seven months ended August 31, 2014, all asset classes experienced positive returns for the period.

For the period February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014, the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) provided a total return of 7.16%, at net asset value. This compares with a return of 8.18% for the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 2500® Index.

Nevertheless, as a result of the Portfolio’s diversified investment approach, performance principally was determined by broad structural trends in global equity markets, rather than the behavior of a limited number of stocks. Among the most important factors explaining differences in the behavior of diversified equity funds, like the Portfolio, are company size and company value/growth characteristics of the underlying fund holdings. Size is measured by market capitalization and “value” classification is a function of stock price relative to one or more fundamental characteristics.

U.S. large company stocks performed better than small company stocks. The Russell 2000® Index has returned 4.65% from February 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, while the S&P 500® Index was up 13.82%. Furthermore, for the same time period, the Russell 2000® Value Index was up 6.27% and the Russell 1000® Value Index returned 14.41%.

In summary, U.S. large cap stocks performed better than small cap stocks but both were positive returns. Furthermore, U.S. value stocks did better than U.S. growth stocks, which also contributed to returns of the Portfolio.

Today’s environment underscores that markets are highly unpredictable over the short term. In other words, anything can happen, so a balanced, diversified, long-term approach is favored.

 

2


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

                                         Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio                                        

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio vs. Russell 2500® Index and Composite Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Portfolio made on February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) and reflects Portfolio expenses. Investors should note that the Portfolio is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Russell 2500® Index and Composite Index are unmanaged, do not incur sales charges and/or expenses and are not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Period Ended August 31, 2014   
     Since
Inception*
 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

    7.16%   

Russell 2500® Index

    8.18%   

Composite Index**

    9.45%   

 

* Not Annualized — The Portfolio commenced operations on February 18, 2014.
**

The Composite Index is comprised of the S&P 500® Index, Russell 1000® Value Index, Russell 2000® Index and Russell 2000® Value Index, weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or on the redemption of Portfolio shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-780-0357 ext. 3863. The Portfolio’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 1.08% (included in the ratio is 0.32% attributable to acquired fund fees and expenses).

The Portfolio’s aggregate total return since inception is based on a increase in net asset value from $25.00 per share on February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) to $26.79 per share on August 31, 2014.

The Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio underlying funds invest in small-cap and micro-cap stocks, large-cap stocks and other equity securities. In addition to the ordinary risks of equity investing, small companies entail special risk. Small companies tend to have more risk than large companies. An investor in the Portfolio will incur the expenses of the underlying funds in addition to the Portfolio’s expenses.

 

3


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio—Investment Review

The global recovery continued for developed countries during the seven-month period ended August 31, 2014, and was friendlier to emerging market countries compared to the prior twelve-months. Tensions in Russia and Ukraine and signs of decelerating growth in China caused some turbulence, however, equity markets in the region still managed to produce double digit returns. In addition, returns for emerging markets experienced a significant turnaround from the previous year despite continued signs of slowing growth, and rising tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. Markets outside the U.S. were up despite all of the doom and gloom.

For the period February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014, the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) was up 3.28%. This compares with a return of 7.95% for the Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index.

As a result of the Portfolio’s diversified investment approach, performance principally was determined by broad structural trends in global equity markets, rather than the behavior of a limited number of stocks. Among the most important factors explaining differences in the behavior of diversified equity funds, like the Portfolio, are company size and company value/growth characteristics of the underlying fund holdings and broad exposure to emerging market equities.

International large company stocks fared better than international small company stocks. The MSCI EAFE Index (net of dividends) has returned 6.86% from February 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, while the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index was up 4.44%. Furthermore, for the same time period, the MSCI EAFE Value Index (net of dividends) increased 7.55% verses MSCI EAFE Small Cap Value Index at 4.96% and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net of dividends) was up 18.31%.

In summary, factors that hindered the Portfolio’s return compared to the benchmark included international small cap and small cap value asset classes as well as the mid-February start of the Portfolio. While international large and large value asset classes also pulled the Portfolio’s performance higher. The Portfolio’s increased exposure, when compared to the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index, to small and value companies as well as emerging market country stocks contributed to the Portfolio’s return.

Today’s environment underscores that markets are highly unpredictable over the short term. In other words, anything can happen, so a balanced, diversified, long-term approach is favored.

 

4


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

                                         Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio                                        

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio vs. MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index and Composite Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Portfolio made on February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) and reflects Portfolio expenses. Investors should note that the Portfolio is a professionally managed mutual fund while the MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index and Composite Index are unmanaged, do not incur sales charges and/or expenses and are not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Period Ended August 31, 2014   
      Since
Inception*
 

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

     3.28%   

MSCI World (excluding U.S.) Index

     7.95%   

Composite Index**

     8.82%   

 

* Not Annualized — The Portfolio commenced operations on February 18, 2014.
** The Composite Index is comprised of the MSCI EAFE Index, MSCI EAFE Value Index, MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, and MSCI Emerging Markets Index, weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or on the redemption of Portfolio shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-780-0357 ext. 3863. The Portfolio’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 1.33% (included in the ratio is 0.52% attributable to acquired fund fees and expenses).

The Portfolio’s aggregate total return since inception is based on a increase in net asset value from $25.00 per share on February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) to $25.82 per share on August 31, 2014.

Portfolio composition is subject to change.

The Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio’s underlying funds invest in common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into stocks and other equity securities issued by foreign companies. In addition to the ordinary risks of equity investing, foreign and small companies entail special risk. The return on foreign equities may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations. Emerging markets may be subject to social instability and lack of market liquidity. Small companies tend to have more risk than large companies. An investor in the Portfolio will incur the expenses of the underlying funds in addition to the Portfolio’s expenses.

 

5


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio—Investment Review

The U.S. economy grew modestly during the seven-months period ended August 31, 2014. Total unemployment persisted at elevated levels, but maintained its improving trend. Monetary policy remains accommodative, but expectations for winding down the unprecedented policies created uncertainty. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) did not make any changes to its policy of keeping the target for the federal funds rate near zero or its asset purchase program of buying agency mortgage-backed securities and Treasury securities. With the end of the Federal Reserve’s “easy money” policy looming on the horizon, interest rate-sensitive assets in general still returned relatively low results. Non-U.S. fixed income performed roughly on par with the U.S. The broad proxy for the U.S. bond market, the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, produced a 3.28% total return for the seven-month period ended August 31, 2014. In comparison, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Three-Month Treasury Bill Index returned 0.02%.

The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) focuses on mutual funds that invest in global high quality and shorter-term government and corporate fixed income assets. For the period February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014, the Portfolio provided a total return of 0.32%. This compares with a return of 1.00% for the Portfolio’s benchmark, the Citigroup World Government Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index.

The Portfolio performed slightly under its benchmark for the period but performed as expected. A contributing factor to the performance of the Portfolio compared to the benchmark was the Portfolio’s slightly lower exposure to certain global markets and more exposure to high quality U.S. Government Bonds, as well as its mid-February launch.

 

6


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

                                         Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio                                        

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio vs. Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency

Hedged U.S. Dollar Index and Composite Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Portfolio made on February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) and reflects Portfolio expenses. Investors should note that the Portfolio is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index and Composite Index are unmanaged, do not incur sales charges and/or expenses and are not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Period Ended August 31, 2014   
     Since
Inception*
 

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

    0.32%   

Citigroup World Govt. Bond 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index

    1.00%   

Composite Index**

    1.33%   

 

* Not Annualized — The Portfolio commenced operations on February 18, 2014.
** The Composite Index is comprised of the Three-Month Treasury Bill Index, Barclays Capital Intermediate Government Bond Index, BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Government/Corporate Index and Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index, weighted 25%, 25%, 25% and 25%, respectively.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or on the redemption of Portfolio shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-780-0357 ext. 3863. The Portfolio’s annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 0.96% (included in the ratio is 0.20% attributable to acquired fund fees and expenses).

The Portfolio’s aggregate total return since inception is based on an increase in net asset value from $25.00 per share on February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) to $25.08 per share on August 31, 2014.

Portfolio composition is subject to change.

The Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio’s underlying funds invest in fixed income securities. The underlying funds may invest their assets in bonds and other debt securities issued by domestic and foreign governments and companies. Debt instruments involve the risk that their prices will fall when interest rates rise, and they are subject to the risk that the borrower may default. In addition, the return on foreign debt securities may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations. An investor in the Portfolio will incur expenses of the underlying funds in addition to the Portfolio’s expenses.

 

7


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Portfolio Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Portfolio(s), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Portfolio expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio(s) and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying tables is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,056.00         $ 5.86   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,019.51           5.75   
     Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.70         $ 6.87   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,018.40           6.87   

 

 

8


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Portfolio Expense Examples (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

     Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio  
     Beginning Account Value
March  1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,002.00         $ 5.05   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,020.16           5.09   

 

* Expenses are equal to an annualized six-month expense ratio of 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% for Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent period (184), then divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period. The annualized expense ratios do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the underlying funds. If such fees and expenses had been included, the expenses would have been higher. The range of weighted expense ratios of the underlying funds held by the Portfolios, as stated in their current prospectuses, were as follows:

The annualized expense ratios do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the underlying funds. If such fees and expenses had been included, the expenses would have been higher. The range weighted expense ratios of the underlying funds held by the Portfolios, as stated in their current prospectuses, were as follows:

 

Matson Money U.S.
Equity VI Portfolio

  Matson Money International
Equity VI Portfolio
  Matson Money Fixed
Income VI Portfolio
0.01%-0.08%   0.01%-0.19%   0.01%-0.05%

Each Portfolio’s ending account values on the first line each table are based on the actual six-month total return for each Portfolio of 5.60% for Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, 1.97% for the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and 0.20% for the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio.

 

9


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Number of
Shares
     Value  

EQUITY FUNDS — 98.7%

     

U.S. Large Cap Value
Portfolio III(a)

     77,647       $ 2,008,740   

U.S. Large Company Portfolio(a)

     72,062         1,142,899   

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio(b)

     57,957         1,161,461   

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio(b)

     37,009         1,160,974   

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio(b)

     20,990         773,913   

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio(b)

     12,851         308,806   

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio(b)

     58,428         1,160,956   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY FUNDS
(Cost $7,387,559)

        7,717,749   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 98.7%

     

(Cost $7,387,559)

        7,717,749   
     

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 1.3%

        98,632   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

      $ 7,816,381   
     

 

 

 

Portfolio Holding Summary Table

(Unaudited)

 

    % of
Net Assets
    Value  

Equity Funds

    98.7%      $ 7,717,749   

Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities

    1.3%        98,632   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0%      $ 7,816,381   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(a) A portfolio of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.
(b) A portfolio of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS — 98.6%

  

 

DFA International Small Cap Value
Portfolio(a)

    70,201      $ 1,495,288   

DFA International Value Portfolio III(b)

    92,161        1,602,676   

Emerging Markets Portfolio(a)

    9,753        280,100   

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio(a)

    11,397        260,871   

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio(a)

    8,486        260,012   

Large Cap International Portfolio(a)

    11,203        256,114   

VA International Small Portfolio(b)

    70,827        907,291   

VA International Value Portfolio(b)

    19,685        267,326   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS

  

 

(Cost $5,274,095)

      5,329,678   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 98.6%

   

(Cost $5,274,095)

      5,329,678   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 1.4%

      77,896   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

    $ 5,407,574   
   

 

 

 

Portfolio Holding Summary Table

(Unaudited)

 

    % of
Net Assets
    Value  

International Equity Funds

    98.6%      $ 5,329,678   

Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities

    1.4%        77,896   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0%      $ 5,407,574   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(a) A portfolio of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.
(b) A portfolio of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

11


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

FIXED INCOME FUNDS — 98.9%

  

 

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    89,203      $ 983,910   

DFA Inflation Protected Securities Portfolio(a)

    40,691        491,143   

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    93,483        1,180,692   

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    217,375        2,243,314   

DFA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio(a)

    19,199        196,021   

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio(a)

    73,701        787,128   

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

    245,978        2,459,774   

VA Global Bond Portfolio(a)

    135,525        1,475,864   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL FIXED INCOME FUNDS

   

(Cost $9,783,833)

      9,817,846   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 98.9%

   

(Cost $9,783,833)

      9,817,846   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 1.1%

      109,539   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

    $ 9,927,385   
   

 

 

 

Portfolio Holding Summary Table

(Unaudited)

 

    % of
Net Assets
    Value  

Fixed Income Funds

    98.9%      $ 9,817,846   

Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities

    1.1%        109,539   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0%      $ 9,927,385   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(a) A portfolio of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

12


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

     Matson Money
U.S. Equity
VI Portfolio
     Matson Money
International Equity
VI Portfolio
       Matson Money
Fixed Income
VI Portfolio
 

ASSETS

          

Investments in non-affiliated funds, at value †

   $ 7,717,749       $ 5,329,678         $ 9,817,846   

Cash and cash equivalents

     80,276         67,334           84,996   

Receivables

          

Receivable for capital shares sold

     22,789         17,427           26,811   

Receivable from Investment Adviser

     24,239         19,755           27,823   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     4,113         4,077           4,121   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total assets

     7,849,166         5,438,271           9,961,597   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

          

Payables

          

Administration and accounting fees

     8,934         8,708           9,044   

Audit fees

     7,276         7,277           7,276   

Printing fees

     4,198         4,290           4,029   

Custodian fees

     3,466         3,466           3,466   

Investment adviser

     2,885         1,996           3,907   

Capital shares redeemed

     2,100         1,567           2,468   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     3,926         3,393           4,022   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     32,785         30,697           34,212   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 7,816,381       $ 5,407,574         $ 9,927,385   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF

          

Par value

   $ 292       $ 209         $ 396   

Paid-in capital

     7,495,793         5,342,703           9,906,028   

Undistributed / accumulated net investment income/(loss)

     (9,736      7,620           (13,031

Accumulated net realized gain/(loss) from investments

     (158      1,459           (21

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     330,190         55,583           34,013   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 7,816,381       $ 5,407,574         $ 9,927,385   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     291,819         209,394           395,754   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 26.79       $ 25.82         $ 25.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

† Investment in non-affiliated funds, at cost

   $ 7,387,559       $ 5,274,095         $ 9,783,833   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

13


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Statements of Operations

For the Period Ended August 31, 2014

 

       Matson Money
U.S. Equity
VI Portfolio*
     Matson Money
International Equity
VI Portfolio*
     Matson Money
Fixed Income
VI Portfolio*
 

Investment Income

          

Dividends from non-affiliated funds

     $ 14,822       $ 28,806       $ 19,212   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

          

Legal fees

       27,533         19,139         39,538   

Audit fees

       12,809         12,810         12,809   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

       11,764         11,606         11,980   

Advisory fees (Note 2)

       11,304         7,847         16,126   

Administration and accounting fees (Note 2)

       10,322         9,979         10,718   

Custodian fees (Note 2)

       6,708         6,708         6,708   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

       4,351         4,403         4,261   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

       2,559         2,567         2,573   

Other expenses

       4,647         4,506         4,857   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

       91,997         79,565         109,570   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: Advisory fee waiver

       (11,304      (7,847      (16,126

Less: Reimbursement

       (55,147      (50,532      (61,193
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net operating expenses

       25,546         21,186         32,251   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

       (10,724      7,620         (13,039
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) from investments

          

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

          

Non-affiliated funds

       830         1,459         (13

Net change in unrealized appreciation on:

          

Non-affiliated funds

       330,190         55,583         34,013   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

       331,020         57,042         34,000   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     $ 320,296       $ 64,662       $ 20,961   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Commenced operations on February 18, 2014

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

14


MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

       For the Period
February 18, 2014*
through
August 31, 2014
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

    

Net investment loss

     $ (10,724

Net realized gain from investments

       830   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments

       330,190   
    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       320,296   
    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

    

Proceeds from shares sold

       7,592,809   

Shares redeemed

       (96,724
    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital shares

       7,496,085   
    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

       7,816,381   
    

 

 

 

Net assets:

    

Beginning of period

         
    

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 7,816,381   
    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment loss, end of period

     $ (9,736
    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

    

Shares sold

       295,612   

Shares redeemed

       (3,793
    

 

 

 

Net increase from shares outstanding

       291,819   
    

 

 

 

 

* Commencement of operations

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

15


MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

       For the Period
February 18, 2014*
through
August 31, 2014
 

Increase in net assets from operations:

    

Net investment income

     $ 7,620   

Net realized gain from investments

       1,459   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments

       55,583   
    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       64,662   
    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

    

Proceeds from shares sold

       5,464,106   

Shares redeemed

       (121,194
    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital shares

       5,342,912   
    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

       5,407,574   
    

 

 

 

Net assets:

    

Beginning of period

         
    

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 5,407,574   
    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income, end of period

     $ 7,620   
    

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

    

Shares sold

       214,126   

Shares redeemed

       (4,732
    

 

 

 

Net increase from shares outstanding

       209,394   
    

 

 

 

 

* Commencement of operations

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16


MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the Period
February 18, 2014*
through

August 31, 2014
 
  

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

  

Net investment loss

   $ (13,039

Net realized loss from investments

     (13

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments

     34,013   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     20,961   
  

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

  

Proceeds from shares sold

     9,971,763   

Shares redeemed

     (65,339
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital shares

     9,906,424   
  

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     9,927,385   
  

 

 

 

Net assets:

  

Beginning of period

       
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 9,927,385   
  

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment loss, end of period

   $ (13,031
  

 

 

 

Capital share transactions:

  

Shares sold

     398,366   

Shares redeemed

     (2,612
  

 

 

 

Net increase from shares outstanding

     395,754   
  

 

 

 

 

* Commencement of operations

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

17


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each share outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the period. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     For the Period
February 18, 2014(1)

through
August 31, 2014
 

Per Share Operating Performance

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 25.00   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss(2)

     (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     1.85   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     1.79   
  

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

  

Net investment income

       

Net realized capital gains

       
  

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

       
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 26.79   
  

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

     7.16 %(4) 
  

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

  

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 7,816   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers(5)

     1.13 %(6) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers

     4.07 %(6) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets with waivers(5)

     (0.47 )%(6) 

Portfolio turnover rate

     1.32 %(4) 

 

(1) Commencement of operations.
(2) The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) Not Annualized.
(5) The Portfolio also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(6) Annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

18


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each share outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the period. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     For the Period
February 18, 2014(1)
through
August 31, 2014
 

Per Share Operating Performance

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 25.00   
  

 

 

 

Net investment income(2)

     0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.75   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     0.82   
  

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

  

Net investment income

       

Net realized capital gains

       
  

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

       
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 25.82   
  

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

     3.28 %(4) 
  

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

  

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 5,408   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers(5)

     1.35 %(6) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers

     5.07 %(6) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets with waivers(5)

     0.49 %(6) 

Portfolio turnover rate

     2.47 %(4) 

 

(1) Commencement of operations.
(2) The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) Not Annualized.
(5) The Portfolio also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(6) Annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

19


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each share outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the period. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     For the Period
February 18, 2014(1)
through
August 31, 2014
 

Per Share Operating Performance

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 25.00   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss(2)

     (0.05

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.13   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     0.08   
  

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

  

Net investment income

       

Net realized capital gains

       
  

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

       
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 25.08   
  

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

     0.32 %(4) 
  

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

  

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 9,927   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers(5)

     1.00 %(6) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers

     3.40 %(6) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets with waivers(5)

     (0.40 )%(6) 

Portfolio turnover rate

     0.55 %(4) 

 

(1) Commencement of operations.
(2) The selected per share data was calculated using the average shares outstanding method for the period.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) Not Annualized.
(5) The Portfolio also will indirectly bear its prorated share of expenses of the underlying funds. Such expenses are not included in the calculation of this ratio.
(6) Annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

20


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, the Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio (each a “Portfolio,” collectively the “Portfolios”). Each Portfolio operates as a “fund of funds” and commenced investment operations on February 18, 2014. Shares of the Portfolios are offered to separate accounts of participating life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

PORTFOLIO VALUATION — Investments in the underlying funds are valued at each fund’s net asset value determined as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). As required, some securities and assets may be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. Direct investments in fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS — The inputs and valuations techniques used to measure fair value of the Portfolios’ investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

  •    Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

  •    Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

  •    Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolios’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Portfolios’ investments carried at fair value:

MATSON MONEY U.S. EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

 

     Total Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Input
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Input
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 7,717,749       $ 7,717,749       $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

* Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details.

MATSON MONEY INTERNATIONAL EQUITY VI PORTFOLIO

 

     Total Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Input
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Input
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 5,329,678       $ 5,329,678       $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

* Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details.

 

21


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

MATSON MONEY FIXED INCOME VI PORTFOLIO

 

     Total Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Input
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Input
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 9,817,846       $ 9,817,846       $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

* Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Portfolios’ investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Portfolios may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require each Portfolio to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchases and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires a Portfolio to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when a Portfolio had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when a Portfolio had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the period ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Portfolios.

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES — Transactions are accounted for on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The Portfolios estimate the components of distributions received that may be considered return of capital distributions or capital gain distributions. Each Portfolio’s investment income, expenses and unrealized and realized gains and losses are allocated daily. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family (in proportion to net assets). Expenses incurred for all of the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all Portfolios in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the net asset value of the Portfolios. In addition to the net annual operating expenses that the Portfolios bear directly, the shareholders indirectly bear the Portfolios’ pro-rata expenses of the underlying mutual funds in which each Portfolio invests.

 

22


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on ex-dividend date for all Portfolios with the exception of the Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio which declares and pays quarterly dividends from net investment income. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is each Portfolio’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Portfolios consider liquid assets deposited with a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Portfolio expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Portfolios may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Portfolios’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Portfolios in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss for such claims is considered remote.

 

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money” or the “Adviser”), serves as each Portfolio’s investment adviser. The Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets over $5 billion. The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses to 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, respectively. The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements at any time.

As of August 31, 2014, Matson Money has waived and reimbursed fees as follows:

 

Portfolios

   Investment
Advisor
Expense
Waived
     Investment
Advisor
Expense
Reimbursement
 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   $ 11,304       $ 55,147   

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

     7,847         50,532   

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

     16,126         61,193   

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), serves as administrator for the Portfolios. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Portfolios’ average daily net assets and is subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Portfolios’ transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimum and out of pocket expenses.

 

23


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides custodian services to the Portfolios. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee subject to certain minimum monthly and out of pocket expenses.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Portfolios’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

 

3. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors by the Portfolios during the period ended August 31, 2014 was $11,378. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Portfolios or the Company.

 

4. Investment in Securities

For the period from February 18, 2014 (commencement of operation) through August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Portfolios were as follows:

 

     Purchases        Sales  

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   $ 7,437,625         $ 50,896   

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

     5,338,566           65,930   

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

     9,813,649           29,803   

 

5. Federal Income Tax Information

The Portfolios have followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Portfolios to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Portfolios have determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Portfolios are subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, the federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by each Portfolio were as follows:

 

     Federal Tax
Cost
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   $ 7,387,717       $ 330,190       $ (158    $ 330,032   

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

     5,274,141         66,252         (10,715      55,537   

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

     9,783,854         36,580         (2,588      33,992   

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

 

24


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to reclassifications of short-term capital gain distributions, were reclassified among the following accounts:

 

     Undistributed
Net Investment
Income
       Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain/(Loss)
       Paid-In Capital  

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   $     988         $     (988)         $         —   

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

               —              

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

     8           (8)             

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

     Undistributed
Ordinary Income
       Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gains
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
       Qualified
Late-Year
Losses
 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   $         —         $         —         $ 330,032         $ (9,736

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

     9,125                     55,537             

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

                         33,992           (13,031

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate primarily to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reported as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

For the period ended August 31, 2014, there were no dividends and distributions paid to shareholders.

Distributions from net investment income and short term capital gains are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

Pursuant to federal income tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies, the Portfolios may elect to treat certain capital losses between November 1 and August 31 and late year ordinary losses ((i) ordinary losses between January 1 and August 31, and (ii) specified ordinary and currency losses between November 1 and August 31) as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the year ended August 31, 2014, any amount of losses elected within the tax return will not be recognized for federal income tax purposes until September 1, 2014.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Portfolios deferred to September 1, 2014, the following qualified late-year losses:

 

Portfolio

   Late-Year
Ordinary
Loss Deferral
       Short-Term
Capital
Loss Deferral
       Long-Term
Capital
Loss Deferral
 

Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio

   $ 9,736         $         —         $         —   

Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio

                           

Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio

     13,031                       

 

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Portfolios are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Portfolios did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

 

6. Subsequent Event

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Portfolios through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

25


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. and Shareholders of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio:

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Matson Money U.S. Equity VI Portfolio, Matson Money International Equity VI Portfolio, and Matson Money Fixed Income VI Portfolio, separately managed portfolios of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Funds”) at August 31, 2014, the results of each of their operations, the changes in each of their net assets and the financial highlights for the period February 18, 2014 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at August 31, 2014 by correspondence with the transfer agent, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 27, 2014

 

26


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

 

Because each Portfolio’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Portfolios, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Portfolios.

 

27


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Other Information

(Unaudited)

 

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Portfolios use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling Matson Money VI Portfolios at (866) 780-0357, ext. 3863 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

28


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Company Management

(Unaudited)

 

Directors and Executive Officers

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 866-780-0357, ext. 3683.

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other
Directorships
Held by Director

During
Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

  Director   1988 to present   Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012) ;Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

29


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Company Management (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other
Directorships
Held by Director

During
Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

  Chairman Director  

2005 to present

1991 to Present

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

  Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).
INTERESTED DIRECTORS2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).   23   None
OFFICERS

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer   President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to Present   President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

 

30


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other
Directorships
Held by Director

During
Past 5 Years

OFFICERS

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

  Assistant Secretary   1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A
* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1. 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2. 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

31


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

 

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

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

•           Social Security number

•           account balances

•           account transactions

•           transaction history

•           wire transfer instructions

•           checking account information

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

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information   Do the Matson Money VI Portfolios share?   Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes

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

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

  Yes   No
For joint marketing with other financial companies   Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your transactions and experiences

  Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your creditworthiness

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

 

Questions?   Call (866) 573-2152 or go to www.MatsonMoney.com

 

32


MATSON MONEY VI PORTFOLIOS

Privacy Notice (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

 

What we do

 
 
How do the Matson Money VI Portfolios protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How do the Matson Money VI Portfolios collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

•           open an account

•           provide account information

•           give us your contact information

•           make a wire transfer

•           tell us where to send the money

 

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

•           sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

•           affiliates from using your information to market to you

•           sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions

Affiliates  

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

 

•            Our affiliates include McGriff Video Productions and Matson Money, Inc.

Nonaffiliates  

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

 

•            The Matson Money VI Portfolios don’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Portfolios may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

Joint marketing  

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

 

•            The Matson Money VI Portfolios may share your information with other financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing arrangements who may suggest additional fund services or other investment products which may be of interest to you.

 

33


 

Investment Adviser

MATSON MONEY, INC.

5955 Deerfield Blvd.

Mason, OH 45040

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund

of The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

Annual Report    August 31, 2014

 

LOGO


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

Dear Shareholder:

We began the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 with a constructive outlook for small caps but recognized the landscape would be dynamic. The initiation of the Federal Reserve tapering and potential modest rate increases represented a shift from the previous four years and would likely introduce a bit more volatility to the markets and make higher quality companies relatively more attractive. The world economy seemed to be entering an era of low growth as the population of consumers were in decline and nations continued work to repair balance sheets. Even with small cap P/E ratios exceeding historical averages versus large caps, we felt valuation metrics were not yet overly stretched given low inflation and still low interest rates. As a result, we expected this backdrop would provide an opportunity for solid relative performance from dynamic small cap (growth) companies with better products or business processes, rather than relying just on demand-driven pricing. Based on past experience, we believed small cap returns would become increasingly reliant on earnings growth versus multiple expansion, which would bode well for Perimeter’s bottom-up, quality approach.

As we progressed through the year, the market began rotating away from earlier market leadership, which resulted in a significant correction in certain segments such as the Healthcare and Technology sectors. While higher quality companies seemed to perform well as the benchmark declined, there continued to be no discernible trend favoring quality. Also during this period, small cap performance relative to large cap performance also began weakening and, as anticipated, volatility began to return. In fact, volatility of small caps continued to increase in the second half of the year, peaking in early July. As one measure, the Russell 2000® Growth Index lost 5.5% in July before rebounding 5.8% into August.

The Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) underperformed the Russell 2000® Growth Index for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 , returning 14.75% (net, I Shares Class) versus 17.30%, respectively. The largest headwinds to performance came from our underweight to non-profitable biotech stocks and individual stock selection within the Technology sector. For example, not owning some of the best performing stocks such as InterMune (ITMN) or Puma Biotechnology (PBYI) that were held in the Index and returned over 414% each, contributed nearly 1.2% to our underperformance for the year. In the Technology sector, software provider eGain Corporation (EGAN) and Perion Networks (PERI) were weak performers. As for contributors, the Fund holdings in Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples performed well during the year. In Consumer Discretionary, the Fund was buoyed by our relative underweight versus the Index, as well as strong performance from holdings such as Gentherm (THRM), G-III Apparel (GIII) and Core-Mark Holdings (CORE). Our stock selection in the Consumer Staples sector was a significant contributor with solid performance from Rite Aid (RAD), Susser Holdings (SUSS), and Sunopta (STKL).

At the end of August, we announced important organizational changes at Perimeter. After a 27-year investment career, Fund Manager and one of Perimeter’s founding partners, Mark Garfinkel, CFA, decided to retire from the investment management industry. While this was not the direction Perimeter intended, we believe the firm’s small cap growth strategies, including the mutual fund, would not be the same without Mark at the forefront. As a firm, we feel strongly that if we cannot deliver results that rank among the best in the industry then it is better to return capital to our shareholders. Accordingly, the Fund will be liquidated on or about October 31, 2014. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may have caused and sincerely thank you for your support of Perimeter’s small cap growth team over the years.

Sincerely,

Perimeter Capital Management

This report represents the manager’s assessment of the Fund and the market environment at a specific point in time and should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice.

Portfolio composition is subject to change. The current and future portfolio holdings of the Fund are subject to investment risk.

The Russell 2000® Index is a widely-recognized, capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the smallest 2,000 companies in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. Direct investment into an index is not possible.

Price-Earnings Ratio is a valuation of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings to determine potential future earnings growth of a company.

 

3


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Performance

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in

Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund’s Investor Class Shares vs. Russell 2000® Growth Index

 

LOGO

Comparison of Change in Value of $1,000,000 Investment in

Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund’s I Shares vs. Russell 2000® Growth Index

 

LOGO

 

  *

Investor Class Shares were offered beginning September 29, 2006.

 

    **

I Shares were offered beginning December 31, 2007. The performance shown for the I Shares prior to December 31, 2007 is based on the performance and expenses of the Investor Class Shares, and have not been adjusted for the shareholder servicing fee charged specifically to the Investor Class Shares.

These charts assume a hypothetical $100,000 and $1,000,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and I Shares, respectively, made on September 29, 2006 (inception) and reflect Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Russell 2000® Growth Index is unmanaged, does not incur taxes, sales charges, and/or expenses and is not available for investment. The Fund commenced operations on September 29, 2006 as a separate portfolio (the “Predecessor Fund”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II. Immediately prior to the opening of business on February 8, 2010, the Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new series of The RRB Fund, Inc. The performance shown for periods prior to February 8, 2010 represents the performance of the Predecessor Fund.

 

4


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Returns For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014
      One Year    Three Year    Five Year   

Since

Inception***

Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund, Investor Class Shares*

   14.71%    15.93%    14.83%    6.88%

Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund, I Shares**

   14.75%    16.18%    15.06%    7.07%

Russell 2000® Growth Index

   17.30%    19.23%    18.30%    9.20%

*      Investor Class Shares were offered beginning September 29, 2006.

**    I Shares were offered beginning December 31, 2007. The performance shown for the I Shares prior to December 31, 2007 is based on the performance and expenses of the Investor Class Shares, and has not been adjusted for the shareholder servicing fee charged specifically to the Investor Class Shares.

***  The Fund commenced operations on September 29, 2006 as a separate portfolio (the “Predecessor Fund”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II. The performance shown for periods prior to February 8, 2010 represents the performance of the Predecessor Fund.

 

The performance data quoted herein represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than its original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. For performance current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-968-4964. Performance assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Unlike a mutual fund, index returns do not reflect taxes, fees or expenses. The Fund’s gross total expense ratio as stated in the prospectus is 1.50% for Investor Shares and 1.25% for I Shares. The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been lower in their absence. The Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee if redeemed within 7 days. The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the total expenses of the Investor Class Shares and I Shares of the Fund (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) to 1.35% and 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and I Shares, respectively, through December 31, 2014.

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

Mutual fund investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. The Fund invests in small cap stocks which generally involve more risk than large cap stocks due to potentially greater volatility and less market liquidity.

 

5


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Fund Expense Disclosure

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Examples for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund — Investor Class Shares
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
   Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
   Expenses Paid
During Period*

Actual

   $1,000.00    $978.60    $6.73

Hypothetical - (5% return before expenses)

   1,000.00    1,018.40    6.87

 

     Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund — I Shares
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
   Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
   Expenses Paid
During Period*

Actual

   $1,000.00    $977.70    $5.48

Hypothetical - (5% return before expenses)

   1,000.00    1,019.66    5.60

 

  *

Expenses are equal to an annualized six-month expense ratio of 1.35% for the Investor Class Shares and 1.10% for the I Shares which includes waived fees, reimbursed expenses or recoupment, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent period (184), then divided by 365 to reflect the six-month period. The Fund’s ending account values on the first line in each table are based on the actual six-month total return for the Fund of (2.14)% for the Investor Class Shares and (2.23)% for the I Shares.

 

6


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund.

 

     % of Net
Assets
    Value  

Domestic Common Stocks:

    

Consumer Non-cyclical

     20.7   $ 7,685,655   

Industrial.

     19.2        7,124,735   

Consumer Cyclical

     15.8        5,878,669   

Technology

     14.4        5,323,285   

Energy

     9.8        3,625,465   

Financial

     7.0        2,589,521   

Basic Materials

     4.9        1,834,932   

Communications

     4.9        1,806,544   

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

     3.3        1,209,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     100.0   $ 37,078,123   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

7


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS† - 96.7%

     

Basic Materials — 4.9%

     

Balchem

     8,284       $ 426,129   

Globe Specialty Metals

     15,080         309,743   

Horsehead Holding*

     16,595         335,053   

Kapstone Paper and Packaging*

     12,640         388,554   

Polyone

     9,573         375,453   
     

 

 

 
            1,834,932   
     

 

 

 

Communications — 4.9%

     

ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd.

     17,775         141,489   

Constant Contact*

     5,142         160,276   

GTT Communications*

     10,820         132,437   

LogMein*

     10,410         440,135   

NIC

     13,011         243,826   

Perficient*

     9,940         171,167   

Perion Network Ltd.*

     14,803         97,256   

Rignet*

     3,758         175,386   

Shoretel*

     30,120         201,804   

Sizmek*

     4,860         42,768   
     

 

 

 
        1,806,544   
     

 

 

 

Consumer Cyclical — 15.8%

     

Allegiant Travel

     4,030         495,126   

Bally Technologies*

     6,220         493,184   

Brown Shoe

     13,430         400,751   

Buffalo Wild Wings*

     2,130         314,707   

Burlington Stores*

     11,189         399,112   

Casey’s General Stores

     6,500         465,985   

Core-Mark Holding

     7,170         345,307   

Destination XL Group*

     73,861         369,305   

Gentherm*

     9,588         468,374   

G-III Apparel Group*

     2,350         193,969   

Grand Canyon Education*

     6,730         291,005   

Helen of Troy Ltd.*

     3,930         228,805   

La-Z-Boy

     12,561         268,052   

Motorcar Parts of America*

     16,638         504,464   

Potbelly*

     450         5,445   

Restoration Hardware Holdings*

     3,950         331,286   

Spirit Airlines*

     1,430         100,658   

Tenneco*

     3,170         203,134   
     

 

 

 
        5,878,669   
     

 

 

 

Consumer Non-cyclical — 20.7%

     

Akorn*

     14,632         570,941   

Align Technology*

     7,910         430,779   

Anacor Pharmaceuticals*

     18,740         436,455   

Atrion

     320         102,400   

Barrett Business Services

     2,994         177,215   

ExamWorks Group*

     10,025         330,324   

Heartland Payment Systems

     7,080         338,212   

ICON, PLC*

     10,187         504,664   

Insulet*

     6,790         245,187   

Inter Parfums

     6,290         191,593   
     Shares      Value  

Consumer Non-cyclical — (Continued)

     

KAR Auction Services

     12,880       $ 388,461   

Lannett*

     10,710         421,760   

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Cl B*

     5,888         306,411   

Matthews International

     3,690         170,293   

Mimedx Group*

     22,843         160,815   

Natus Medical*

     12,047         338,641   

Novadaq Technologies*

     7,403         96,683   

Pacira Pharmaceuticals*

     3,060         331,276   

Repligen*

     15,070         287,234   

Sagent Pharmaceuticals*

     7,680         213,658   

Sunopta*

     14,510         192,838   

Supernus Pharmaceuticals*

     16,470         149,136   

Team Health Holdings*

     7,820         457,626   

TravelCenters of America*

     14,954         170,326   

TreeHouse Foods*

     5,460         450,559   

Trueblue*

     8,186         222,168   
     

 

 

 
            7,685,655   
     

 

 

 

Energy — 9.8%

     

Abraxas Petroleum*

     48,690         287,758   

Carrizo Oil & Gas*

     3,990         250,253   

Clayton Williams Energy*

     2,620         310,313   

Flotek Industries*

     10,590         294,402   

Matador Resources*

     12,890         352,670   

Natural Gas Services Group*

     6,325         187,726   

Primoris Services

     14,870         431,825   

Rosetta Resources*

     5,020         251,000   

Sanchez Energy*

     10,110         335,551   

Synergy Resources*

     28,721         386,585   

Ultra Petroleum*

     8,610         228,423   

Western Refining.

     6,640         308,959   
     

 

 

 
        3,625,465   
     

 

 

 

Financial — 7.0%

     

Boston Private Financial Holdings

     13,969         169,584   

Cubesmart, REIT

     14,200         264,120   

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd.

     6,810         395,457   

Everbank Financial Corp.

     12,820         242,042   

HFF, CI A

     7,737         232,110   

International Bancshares

     5,060         133,382   

Pinnacle Financial Partners

     5,840         209,422   

Portfolio Recovery Associates*

     7,180         408,039   

Synovus Financial

     8,210         198,271   

WageWorks*

     8,170         337,094   
     

 

 

 
        2,589,521   
     

 

 

 

Industrial — 19.2%

     

AAON

     1         9   

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network

     14,390         145,339   

Altra Industrial Motion

     5,510         183,263   

Astronics*

     3,700         232,138   

Barnes Group

     10,396         355,959   
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

8


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Portfolio of Investments (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

     Shares      Value  

Industrial — (Continued)

     

Belden

     3,880       $ 283,512   

Berry Plastics Group*

     15,606         376,261   

Covanta Holding

     25,460         534,405   

Diana Shipping*

     23,760         252,806   

DXP Enterprises*

     2,449         196,214   

Generac Holdings*

     7,910         367,973   

Graphic Packaging Holding*

     37,330         477,451   

Hillenbrand

     9,570         320,021   

Methode Electronics

     14,549         490,592   

Park-Ohio Holdings

     3,430         199,077   

Power Solutions International*

     2,385         163,015   

Rexnord*

     10,222         298,585   

SunPower*

     9,200         351,624   

Swift Transportation*

     13,670         289,531   

Taser International*

     24,135         378,195   

Tutor Perini*

     8,670         259,060   

US Ecology

     7,325         313,070   

Woodward

     12,572         656,635   
     

 

 

 
            7,124,735   
     

 

 

 

Technology — 14.4%

     

Aspen Technology*

     8,686         356,908   

Callidus Software*

     14,090         161,753   

GT Advanced Technologies*

     18,450         328,594   

iGATE*

     10,090         377,568   

Insight Enterprises*

     8,333         218,658   

Integrated Device Technology*

     20,470         336,731   

Kofax Ltd.*

     18,250         144,722   
     Shares      Value  

Technology — (Continued)

     

Liveperson*

     24,258       $ 313,171   

Mellanox Technologies Ltd.*

     8,524         356,218   

Mentor Graphics

     18,386         400,999   

Netscout Systems*

     11,320         521,512   

Omnicell*

     13,030         366,794   

PTC*

     8,950         346,275   

SS&C Technologies Holdings*

     7,430         336,282   

Tyler Technologies*

     4,870         433,722   

Ultimate Software Group*

     2,200         323,378   
     

 

 

 
        5,323,285   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $27,705,075)

        35,868,806   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 96.7% (Cost $27,705,075)

        35,868,806   
     

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES - 3.3%

        1,209,317   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.0%

      $     37,078,123   
     

 

 

 

 

More narrow industries are utilized for compliance purposes, whereas broad sectors are utilized for reporting purposes.
* Non-income producing security.

 

Cl

Class

PLC

Public Limited Company

REIT

Real Estate Investment Trusts

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

9


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (Cost $27,705,075)

   $ 35,868,806   

Cash

     28,257,740   

Receivables

  

Investments sold

     2,226,955   

Capital shares sold

     24,938   

Dividends and Interest

     10,137   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     45,703   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     66,434,279   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payables

  

Capital shares redeemed

     29,238,851   

Investment advisory fees

     39,507   

Administration and accounting fees

     17,766   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     60,032   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     29,356,156   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 37,078,123   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF

  

Par value

   $ 6,557   

Paid-in capital

     17,237,906   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments

     11,669,929   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     8,163,731   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 37,078,123   
  

 

 

 

Investor Class Shares:

  

Net Assets

   $ 7,958,250   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     1,450,616   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 5.49   
  

 

 

 

I Shares:

  

Net Assets

   $ 29,119,873   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     5,106,218   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 5.70   
  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $1,083)

   $ 225,335   

Interest

     100   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     225,435   
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Advisory fees.

     691,590   

Transfer agent fees.

     128,017   

Administration and accounting fees

     93,981   

Professional fees

     41,257   

Registration and filing fees

     36,345   

Distribution fees(1)

     19,893   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees.

     19,160   

Directors’ and officers’ fees.

     10,650   

Insurance fees

     7,922   

Custodian fees

     4,214   

Other expenses.

     18,007   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers

     1,071,036   

Less: waivers of Advisory fees

     (202,085
  

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers

     868,951   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (643,516
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments

  

Net realized gain from:

  

Investments

     21,294,574   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on:

  

Investments

     (9,297,834
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments.

     11,996,740   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations.

   $ 11,353,224   
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Attributable to Investor Class Shares

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

11


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase in net assets from operations:

    

Net investment loss

   $ (643,516   $ (88,563

Net realized gain from investments

     21,294,574        54,148,626   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     (9,297,834     (15,787,817
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     11,353,224        38,272,246   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

    

Net realized gains

    

Investor Class Shares

     (4,484,213     (2,127,625

I Shares

     (34,587,780     (22,740,311
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (39,071,993     (24,867,936
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital transactions:

    

Investor Class Shares

    

Proceeds from shares sold

     3,556,307        2,393,871   

Reinvestment of distributions

     4,436,888        2,117,679   

Shares redeemed

     (7,183,885     (15,885,113
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from Investor Class Shares.

     809,310        (11,373,563
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

I Shares

    

Proceeds from shares sold

     17,190,907        29,663,943   

Reinvestment of distributions

     34,542,726        22,371,805   

Shares redeemed

     (78,056,992     (176,200,091
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from I Shares

     (26,323,359     (124,164,343
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redemption fees

     412        4,294   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions.

     (25,513,637     (135,533,612
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (53,232,406     (122,129,302

Net assets

    

Beginning of year.

     90,310,529        212,439,831   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 37,078,123      $ 90,310,529   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss, end of year

   $      $   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding derived from share transactions:

    

Investor Class Shares

    

Shares sold

     586,947        260,820   

Dividends and distributions reinvested

     845,121        263,066   

Shares redeemed

     (996,755     (1,787,710
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investor Class Shares

     435,313        (1,263,824
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

I Shares

    

Shares sold

     2,579,709        3,236,483   

Dividends and distributions reinvested

     6,338,115        2,738,287   

Shares redeemed

     (11,540,469     (18,842,321
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total I Shares.

     (2,622,645     (12,867,551
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in shares outstanding

     (2,187,332     (14,131,375
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

12


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     Investor Class Shares  
     Year
Ended
August 31,
2014
    Year
Ended
August 31,
2013
    Year
Ended
August 31,
2012
    Year
Ended
August 31,
2011
    One Month
Period Ended
August 31,
2010(1)
    Year
Ended
July 31,
2010(2)
 

Per Share Operating Performance

            

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.17      $ 9.18      $ 10.75      $ 8.79      $ 9.53      $ 8.45   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(Loss) from Operations:

            

Net Investment Loss(3)

     (0.07     (0.03     (0.09     (0.11     (0.01     (0.09

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments

     1.30        2.23        0.58        2.07        (0.73     1.17   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from Operations

     1.23        2.20        0.49        1.96        (0.74     1.08   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:

            

Net Realized Gains

     (5.91     (1.21     (2.06                     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

     (5.91     (1.21     (2.06                     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redemption Fees(4)

                                          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 5.49      $ 10.17      $ 9.18      $ 10.75      $ 8.79      $ 9.53   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(5)

     14.71     27.47     6.56     22.30     (7.77 )%      12.78
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Net Assets, End of Period (Thousands)

   $ 7,958      $ 10,330      $ 20,930      $ 120,543      $ 160,496      $ 174,434   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (including waivers and recoupment, excluding fees paid indirectly)

     1.35     1.35     1.35     1.35     1.35 %(6)      1.29

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (excluding waivers and recoupment and fees paid indirectly)

     1.62     1.50     1.45     1.38     1.47 %(6)      1.34

Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets

     (1.06 )%      (0.29 )%      (0.93 )%      (0.93 )%      (0.97 )%(6)      (0.93 )% 

Portfolio Turnover Rate(7)

     131     131     138     122     7     97

 

(1)

The Fund changed its fiscal year end to August 31.

(2)

Effective February 8, 2010, the Fund acquired all the assets and liabilities of the Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II (the “Predecessor Fund”). The financial highlights for the period prior to that date reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund.

(3)

Per share data calculated using average share method.

(4)

Amount is less than $0.01 per share.

(5)

Total return has not been annualized for periods less than one year. Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived by the Adviser during the period. The return shown does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemptions of Fund shares.

(6)

Annualized.

(7)

Portfolio turnover rate has not been annualized for periods less than one year.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

13


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective period. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

     I Shares  
     Year
Ended
August 31,
2014
    Year
Ended
August 31,
2013
    Year
Ended
August 31,
2012
    Year
Ended
August 31,
2011
    One Month
Period Ended
August 31,
2010(1)
    Year
Ended
July 31,
2010(2)
 

Per Share Operating Performance

            

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.35      $ 9.30      $ 10.83      $ 8.84      $ 9.58      $ 8.48   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(Loss) from Operations:

            

Net Investment Loss(3)

     (0.05     (— )(4)      (0.07     (0.08     (0.01     (0.07

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

     1.31        2.26        0.60        2.07        (0.73     1.17   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from Operations

     1.26        2.26        0.53        1.99        (0.74     1.10   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:

            

Net Realized Gains

     (5.91     (1.21     (2.06                     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

     (5.91     (1.21     (2.06                     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redemption Fees(4)

                                          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 5.70      $ 10.35      $ 9.30      $ 10.83      $ 8.84      $ 9.58   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return(5)

     14.75     27.81     6.93     22.51     (7.73 )%      12.97
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Net Assets, End of Period (Thousands)

   $ 29,120      $ 79,981      $ 191,510      $ 215,789      $ 165,334      $ 179,290   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (including waivers and recoupment, excluding fees paid indirectly)

     1.10     1.10     1.10     1.10     1.10 %(6)      1.10

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (excluding waivers and recoupment and fees paid indirectly)

     1.37     1.25     1.20     1.14     1.22 %(6)      1.16

Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets

     (0.81 )%      (0.04 )%      (0.68 )%      (0.69 )%      (0.72 )%(6)      (0.74 )% 

Portfolio Turnover Rate(7)

     131     131     138     122     7     97

 

(1)

The Fund changed its fiscal year end to August 31.

(2)

Effective February 8, 2010, the Fund acquired all the assets and liabilities of the Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II (the “Predecessor Fund”). The financial highlights for the period prior to that date reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund.

(3)

Per share data calculated using average share method.

(4)

Amount is less than $0.01 per share.

(5)

Total return has not been annualized for periods less than one year. Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived by the Adviser during the period. The return shown does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemptions of Fund shares.

(6)

Annualized.

(7)

Portfolio turnover rate has not been annualized for periods less than one year.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

14


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”). As of August 31, 2014, the Fund offers Investor Class Shares and I Shares.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

On September 2, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a Plan of Liquidation and Termination (“Plan of Liquidation”) with respect to the Fund. Under the Plan of Liquidation, the effective date of liquidation and termination will be on or about October 31, 2014 (the “Liquidation Date”). Consistent with the provisions of the Plan of Liquidation, the proportionate interests of shareholders in the assets of Perimeter and their rights to receive liquidating distributions will be fixed on the basis of the shareholders of the Fund as of the close of business on the Liquidation Date.

PORTFOLIO VALUATION – The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

   

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:

 

     Total
Value at
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted

Price
     Level 2
Other Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

Total Investments*

   $ 35,868,806       $ 35,868,806       $—    $—
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

* Please refer to Portfolio of Investments for details on portfolio holdings.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

 

15


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Furthermore, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Fund.

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES — The Fund records security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The Fund’s investment income, expenses and unrealized and realized gains and losses are allocated daily. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred for all the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly. Net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is the Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Fund considers liquid assets deposited into a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

REDEMPTION FEES — The Fund retains a redemption fee of 2% on redemptions of Fund shares held less than seven days. The fees are reflected on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. The Fund reserves the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fees or waivers at any time.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

 

16


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Perimeter Capital Management (the “Adviser”) serves as investment adviser to the Fund. For its services, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.35% and 1.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Investor Class Shares and I Shares, respectively. In determining the Adviser’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time during the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect, the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.35% and 1.10% of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and I Shares average daily net assets, respectively, the Adviser may recoup any waived amount from the Fund if such reimbursement does not cause the Fund to exceed existing expense limitations. As of August 31, 2014, the total fees which were previously waived by the Adviser which may be subject to possible future reimbursement to the Adviser were $275,981, $236,487 and $202,085 expiring in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. No recovery is expected due to the pending liquidation and termination of the Fund (Note 1).

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Fund. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer and dividend disbursing agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimums, and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Fund. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily gross assets, subject to certain minimums, and out of pocket fees.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

3. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The remuneration paid to the Directors by the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $10,141. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Fund or the Company.

 

17


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

4. Investment in Securities

For the year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Fund were as follows:

 

    Purchases    

  

Sales

$98,305,445    $166,701,448

5. Federal Income Tax Information

The Fund has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Fund to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Fund is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, the federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Fund were as follows:

 

Federal Tax

Cost

  

Unrealized

Appreciation

  

Unrealized

Depreciation

  

Net Unrealized

Appreciation

$28,029,781    $8,452,929    $(613,904)    $7,839,025

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to the net investment loss and REIT reclasses were reclassified among the following accounts:

 

Undistributed

Net Investment Income

  

Accumulated

Net Realized Loss

 

Paid-In

Capital

$643,516    $(643,516)   $—

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

Ordinary Income

  

Undistributed

Long-Term Gains

  

Unrealized

Appreciation

$5,432,967

  

$6,561,669

  

$7,839,025

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the year ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

    

Ordinary

        Income         

    

Long-Term

        Gains         

  

        Total        

2014      $13,965,327       $25,106,666    $39,071,993
2013      —         24,867,936    24,867,936

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had no capital loss carry forwards.

 

18


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

6. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued.

As described in Note 1, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved a Plan of Liquidation of the Fund, the effective date of which will be on or about October 31, 2014.

 

19


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of the The RBB Fund, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund (one of the series constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) (the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Perimeter Small Cap Growth Fund (one of the series constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) at August 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 29, 2014

 

20


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

Certain tax information is required to be provided to shareholders based upon the Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund paid $13,965,327 of ordinary income dividends and paid $25,106,666 of long-term capital gain dividends to its shareholders. Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund designates 7.52% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

The percentage of total ordinary income dividends paid qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction is 8.09%.

The percentage of ordinary income distributions designated as qualified short-term gains pursuant to the American Job Creation Act of 2004 is 100%.

Because the Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Fund, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

 

21


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Other Information

(Unaudited)

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 968-4964 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company will file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Forms N-Q will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

As required by the 1940Act, the Board of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered the renewal of the investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Company (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreement reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement. In approving the Advisory Agreement, the Board considered information provided by the Adviser with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Company and the Adviser with respect to the Fund, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the Adviser’s services provided to the Fund; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of the Adviser’s personnel providing those services; (iii) the Adviser’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) the Adviser’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) the Adviser’s soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) the Adviser’s current advisory fee arrangement with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) the Adviser’s compliance procedures; (viii) the Adviser’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Fund; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Fund; (x) a report comparing the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of a comparable account managed by the Adviser; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its benchmark.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. The Directors concluded that the Adviser had substantial resources to provide services to the Fund and that the Adviser’s services were acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Fund and the Adviser. Information on the Fund’s investment performance was provided since inception and for one-, three-, and five-year periods, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Directors considered the Fund’s investment performance in light of its investment objective and investment strategies. The Directors also considered the Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds and, although the Fund underperformed both its benchmark and peer funds, the Directors found its performance acceptable.

The Directors also considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) were compared to similar information for a comparable account managed by the Adviser. In addition, the Directors noted that the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating expenses exceed 1.35% of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and 1.10% of the Fund’s Class I Shares.

After reviewing the information regarding the Fund’s costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering the Adviser’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Fund were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreement should be approved and continued for an additional one-year period ending August 16, 2015.

 

22


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Company Management

(Unaudited)

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 968-4964.

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

  

Position(s)

Held

with Company

  Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served 1

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex Overseen by Director*

 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

During Past 5

Years

 

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS        

 

           

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

   Director   1988 to present  

Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast

Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.

   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).
           

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

   Director   2002 to present  

Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt

manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate

Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.)

since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank

since March 2004.

   23   None
           

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

   Director   2012 to present  

Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer,

Emtec, Inc. (information technology

consulting/services); from February 2003-April

2009, Managing Director, head of Business

Services and IT Services Practice, Janney

Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/

brokerage).

   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).
           

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

   Director   2006 to present  

Consultant, financial services organizations

from 1997 to present.

   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds; (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).
           

Arnold M. Reichman 103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

   Chairman Director   2005 to present
1991 to present
 

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer,

Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.

   23   None
           

Robert A. Straniere 103

Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

   Director   2006 to present  

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge,

New York City; from 1980 to present,

Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.

   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

23


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Company Management (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held

with Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other
Directorships
Held

by Director
During Past 5
Years

 
                         INTERESTED DIRECTORS 2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present  

Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting

and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset

Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice

President, Fund Accounting and Adminis-

tration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.

   23   None
           

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present  

Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and

prior thereto, Executive Vice President of

Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered

broker-dealer).

   23   None

 

24


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held

with Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by

Director*

  

Other
Directorships
Held

by Director
During Past 5
Years

 
                 OFFICERS
           

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

 

President and Chief

Compliance Officer

 

President 2009 to

present and Chief

Compliance Officer

2004 to present

  

President, Vigilant Compliance Services since

2004; and Director of EIP Growth and Income

Fund since 2005.

   N/A    N/A
           

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

 

Treasurer

 

2009 to present

  

Since 1993, Vice President and Managing

Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing

(US) Inc. (financial services company).

   N/A    N/A
           

Diana Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

 

Secretary

 

2014 to present

  

Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior

Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing

(US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice

President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment

Servicing from 2008-2010.

   N/A    N/A
           

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

2005 to present

  

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President

of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

(financial services company).

   N/A    N/A
           

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

 

Assistant Secretary

 

1999 to present

  

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath

LLP (law firm).

   N/A    N/A

 

  

*Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

  

1Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

  

2Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

25


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

FACTS            WHAT DOES THE PERIMETER SMALL CAP GROWTH (“PSCG”) FUND DO
WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Why?

  

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

  

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with

us. This information can include:

• Social Security number

• account balances

• account transactions

• transaction history

• wire transfer instructions

• checking account information

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

How?

  

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.

In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal

information; the reasons the PSCG Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

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

 

For our everyday business purpose —

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s),

respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit

bureaus

 

  

Yes

 

  

No

 

 

For our marketing purposes —

to offer our products and services to you

 

  

Yes

 

  

No

 

 

For joint marketing with other financial companies

 

  

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

 

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your transactions and experiences

 

  

Yes

 

  

Yes

 

 

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your creditworthiness

 

  

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

 

For our affiliates to market to you

 

  

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

 

For nonaffiliates to market to you

 

  

No

 

  

We don’t share

 

 

To Limit Our Sharing:        Call Laura Newberg at (770) 350-8700
  
Questions?    Call Laura Newberg at (770) 350-8700

 

26


PERIMETER

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

 

What we do

 

    

How does the PSCG Fund protect my

personal information?

  

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

 

How does the PSCG Fund collect my personal information?   

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

• open an account

• provide account information

• give us your contact information

• make a wire transfer

• tell us where to send the money

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

 

Why can’t I limit all sharing?   

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

• sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your

  creditworthiness

• affiliates from using your information to market to you

• sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

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

 

What happens when I limit sharing for

an account I hold jointly with someone else?

   Your choices will apply to everyone on your account.

 

Definitions

 

Affiliates   

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

• Our affiliates include Concourse Capital and Perimeter Capital Management, LLC.

 

Nonaffiliates   

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

• The PSCG Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Fund may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

 

Joint marketing   

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

• The PSCG Fund WILL NOT share your information with other financial institutions for marketing purposes.

 

 

27


Investment Adviser

Perimeter Capital Management

Six Concourse Parkway

Suite 3300

Atlanta, GA 30328

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, Suite 700

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Legal Counsel

Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


LOGO

 


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

GENERAL MARKET COMMENTARY

 

 

Dear Shareholder,

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the S&P 500 index closed at an all-time high returning 25.25%. The U.S. equity markets were not alone in their advances over the period as global bond, equity and commodity markets all rose in the first half of the year for the first time since 1993. Globally, bond returns continued to benefit from easy monetary policy in Europe, Japan, and the U.S., while developed market equities continued to track favorable earnings trends, aided by stable to improving economic data.

Despite poor first quarter results for the economy, the subsequent data for retail sales (autos in particular), housing starts, industrial production, consumer sentiment, payroll employment and number of hours worked all appeared to show an economy that was rebounding—significantly. Loan growth had also risen, while capital spending and the trade balance looked to be mixed. However, we would note that there are often wide variations quarter to quarter between capital spending and trade balance, and in general the trends have pointed toward an improving U.S. economy. In fact, U.S. GDP grew over 4% in the second quarter of 2014 and earnings growth for that period had accelerated to about 12% for the S&P 500, compared to expectations of less than 6% just three months prior. In addition, inflation readings have remained tame and wage gains have been modest—good news for potential corporate margin expansion going forward. Bank loan growth had been solid through the latter part of the fiscal year, which has supported expectations that the private market will step in to provide liquidity once the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) ceases buying government bonds later this year. One indicator we kept a close eye on is gasoline prices, which had remained elevated in the first part of the year but had begun trending down during the second quarter. Energy prices act as a tax on consumer budgets, and though the employment backdrop has been brightening, gasoline prices can put a dent in consumer sentiment and spending. As of the end of the reporting period, we expect energy prices to remain flat to trending down, and our analysis of the hard data suggests the economy will be on solid footing going forward.

However, global growth prospects are not as upbeat. GDP in the Eurozone did not grow in the second quarter of 2014 and core inflation has remained below 1%. As of the end of the reporting period, the European Central Bank appears to have lost the liquidity war with the U.S. and Japan and the European economy is now paying the price. With German government 10-year bond yields below 1% as of the end of the reporting period, investors are fretful that the Eurozone could potentially become the Japan of the 1990s. The U.S. appears to be the bright spot in the world economy, while Europe remains sluggish and the jury remains out as to whether government policies can counter economic imbalances in China and deflationary forces in Japan.

Looking ahead, the Fed has signaled its intention to raise short-term interest rates at the appropriate time and investors are fearful the Fed may act prematurely. Because inflation remains stubbornly low around the world, the Fed more likely will be exceptionally patient—delaying interest rate hikes until nominal growth has reaccelerated to a reasonable pace. Recent geopolitical events have also contributed to waning sentiment, including Russia’s deepening rift with the West and rising tensions between the U.S., Iraq and Syria. While the combination of underperforming international economies, rising political conflicts and the prospect of the Fed less accommodative may create sources of market instability in the coming months, equity valuations continue to be more appealing relative to U.S. government and corporate bonds. We also expect equity returns to more or less match earnings growth plus dividends over the coming months. Investors seem to have a more balanced assessment of the market risks going forward, which should help prevent a bubble in equity valuations and we remain constructive on the U.S. equity market.

As noted above, there are many moving parts in the global economic and political landscape. Rather than trying to predict these variable outcomes, we will continue to do what we do best—identify stocks that we believe will outperform for your portfolio. By focusing on companies with low valuation, high and increasing returns on capital and improving business momentum, we believe we can create excess returns for you regardless of the investing environment.

Sincerely,

Robeco Investment Management

Portfolio composition is subject to change. The current and future portfolio holdings of the Funds are subject to investment risk.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        1   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder,

The Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000® Value Index, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The small cap value market maintained its positive momentum over the past year, with the Russell 2000 Value Index increasing 18.10%. There have been periods of negative performance within the small cap value market, but the strategy has protected capital during those periods and maintained an edge over its benchmark for the year. Strong stock selection drove the outperformance over a variety of sectors, with Finance, Consumer Services, and Health Care leading the way.

Within Finance, our underweight to regional banks, which comprise almost half of the Index’s weighting, added value along with the outperformance of our insurance holdings. Several top contributors were found in Consumer Services where retailers were mixed, but our holdings outperformed as a whole. Our overweight to Health Care, one of the top performing sectors over the fiscal year, was additive as well as our stock selection as our drugs, supplies and services companies turned in positive returns overall versus those stocks within the Index, which declined. As of the end of the reporting period, Technology was also a bright spot, with the portfolio holdings contributing meaningfully to the overall return. Further, as oil prices declined and the dollar rose, the Energy sector has sold off in recent months and we are maintaining our underweight to the high valuations of the sector.

The primary detractors over the period were Capital Goods, Utilities, and REITs. Several of the portfolio’s Capital Goods positions retreated and lagged the benchmark during the latter half of the period as the EURO deteriorated versus the U.S. Dollar and concerns continued for slower economic growth in Europe. The portfolio was also negatively impacted by our underweights to Utilities and REITs, which have performed well as investors continue to purchase Utilities and REITs for their relative income yield. Those two sectors now comprise 20% of the benchmark index (versus our portfolio at 10%) and, in our opinion, include stocks with stretched valuations with better opportunities elsewhere.

Looking to the rest of the year, the portfolio remains well-positioned with much better valuation, profitability and business momentum than the benchmark. We continue to look for the best opportunities from a risk/reward perspective across the market. The yield bet continues as Utilities and REIT prices, as well as high yielding stocks within other sectors, are driven up. Our contrarian view, and strict valuation process, detracted last calendar year and at times this calendar year as these valuations stretched further. It is notable that the strategy outperformed for 2013 and year-to-date 2014 with these headwinds.

As market valuation levels change, and small cap and large cap trade leadership, we focus on ensuring the portfolio remains well-positioned versus its market. Looking forward, we believe that the portfolio is well positioned with the characteristics that work – attractive valuation, sound fundamentals and catalysts for change – to continue to provide for outperformance over the long term.

Sincerely,

David Dabora, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

 

Small cap companies, as defined by our product, are those with a market capitalization similar to the Russell 2000® Value Index. These companies tend to be new, in early development, or in transition. Usually, small caps are rapidly evolving, generating a new product or service, or taking advantage of a new market. However, returns may be inconsistent and may fluctuate widely over the short term, and small stock valuations tend to be more sensitive to market psychology. The Fund may invest in more aggressive investments such as foreign securities which may expose the Fund to currency and exchange rate fluctuations, illiquid securities, which may cause greater volatility and less liquidity. As a result, an investment in Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II should be part of a carefully diversified portfolio.

P/E: Price/Earnings: A valuation ratio of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings

P/B: Price/Book: A valuation ratio used by investors which compares a stock’s per-share price (market value) to its book value.

ROE: Return on Equity: Measures a corporation’s profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money invested.

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets: The return on operating assets measurement focuses attention on only those assets used to generate revenue.

Portfolio characteristics refer to the underlying securities in the fund’s portfolio and do not represent or predict the performance of any fund.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

World Fuel Services Corp.

    2.07%   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

    1.96%   

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A

    1.69%   

EnerSys, Inc.

    1.57%   

Belden, Inc.

    1.51%   

SYNNEX Corp.

    1.49%   

Two Harbors Investment Corp.

    1.45%   

Finish Line, Inc., (The), Class A

    1.42%   

First American Financial Corp.

    1.41%   

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.

    1.32%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)      

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    17.3

P/B: Price/Book:

    1.7

Holdings:

    160   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $2,016   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    11.3

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    48.4

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

2      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II (unaudited) (continued)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II vs. Russell Indices

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the Russell indices are unmanaged, do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

Small Cap Value Fund II — Institutional Class

    19.33%        21.13%        17.13%        10.03%        1.29%        1.10%   

Russell 2000® Value Index

    18.10%        18.78%        15.74%        8.42%        n/a        n/a   

Russell 2000® Index(1)

    17.68%        19.00%        17.03%        9.36%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive certain fees and/or reimburse expenses until December 31, 2016 as set forth in the notes to financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for a three year period from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 if operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10%. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

This is not a benchmark of the Fund. Results of index performance are presented for general comparative purposes.

The Russell 2000® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index and is considered representative of small-cap stocks.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        3   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II vs. Russell Indices

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the Russell indices are unmanaged, do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

Small Cap Value Fund II — Investor Class

    19.01%        20.82%        16.84%        9.75%        1.54%        1.35%   

Russell 2000® Value Index

    18.10%        18.78%        15.74%        8.42%        n/a        n/a   

Russell 2000® Index(1)

    17.68%        19.00%        17.03%        9.36%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive certain fees and/or reimburse expenses until December 31, 2016 as set forth in the notes to financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for a three year period from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 if operating expenses for that year are less than 1.35%. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1) 

This is not a benchmark of the Fund. Results of index performance are presented for general comparative purposes.

The Russell 2000® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index and is considered representative of small-cap stocks.

 

4      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder:

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund underperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500® Index. The Fund generated a net return of 14.72% (Institutional Class) during the past fiscal year versus the S&P 500® Index return of 25.25%. The portfolio’s return can be roughly attributed to the long holdings within the portfolio as the short portfolio generated modest negative returns over the reporting period.

Our portfolios, both long and short, tend to have a higher exposure to smaller capitalization stocks than does the S&P 500 as that index, being capitalization weighted, is dominated by the very largest companies in the U.S. market. Consequently, given the underperformance of the broader market over the period relative to the S&P 500 certainly weighed on our ability to beat that index of late.

In addition to the “capitalization” effect on our long portfolio, we had exposure to a couple of sectors that had underperformed during the latter half of the fiscal year. Specifically, we had overweight positions in the Energy and Basic Materials sectors of the market. Simply put, we see attractive value opportunities in these sectors, particularly relative to the rest of the market. For the most part, U.S. corporations have experienced a robust profit recovery over the last five years and most companies are enjoying profitability at or above their long run averages. In the Energy and Basic Materials sectors, however, profitability levels are for the most part below their long run potential as the softening economies of China and the emerging markets, as well as the strong U.S. Dollar, have combined to depress commodity prices generally. This has created the opportunity to purchase some industry leading businesses that offer considerable upside return potential as commodity prices normalize over time. Of course, timing the exact inflection in these moves can be challenging, but despite the short-term relative underperformance of these sectors we feel confident that they represent pockets of intermediate to long-term value in a market that otherwise looks fully/fairly valued in a broad sense.

After reviewing some of the shorts that did not play out as expected, we’re reminded of other early phases of decline in the stock market. Frequently, despite excessive valuations among many “story” stocks, they tend to act defensively, at least initially, as the common perception is that their story is sufficiently unique that they should continue to do well (i.e. grow fast, even if uneconomically). Ultimately, this perception proves faulty as risk tolerances recede, but that can often occur later in market declines barring any negative company specific news. Even with the declines seen by the broader market of late, we continue to see plenty of opportunity on the short side of the ledger and would expect the current portfolio positioning to be poised to protect the Fund’s capital well in the event the recent weakening breadth of the market is foreshadowing more declines to come.

As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had a net long position of 43.1%. From a capitalization perspective, the long portfolio had a median market cap of $4.3 billion and the short portfolio had a median market cap of $1.18 billion. The Fund remains extremely well diversified with 205 positions held long and 196 positions held short.

Our bottom-up value discipline has yielded a long portfolio that is attractive relative to the short portfolio from both a valuation and profitability standpoint. The long portfolio trades at 15.2x price-to-earnings and 1.6x price-to-book, and the short portfolio trades at 29.4x price-to-earnings and 4.9x price-to-book. We believe that consistently positioning the Fund with these general characteristics increases the probability of success over the long term and continues to be the focus of our efforts.

Sincerely,

Robert Jones, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

 

Investment in shares of the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund is more volatile and risky than some other forms of investments. Since the Fund has both a long and a short portfolio, an investment in the Fund will involve risks associated with twice the number of investment decisions made for a typical stock fund. These types of funds typically have a high portfolio turnover that could increase transaction costs and cause short-term capital gains to be realized. Investments made in small or mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and less liquid due to limited resources or product lines and more sensitive to economic factors. The Fund may invest in more aggressive investments such as foreign securities which may expose the fund to currency and exchange rate fluctuations, illiquid and high yield debt (also known as junk bonds), all of which may cause greater volatility and less liquidity conditions.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

Iridium Communications, Inc.

    1.74%   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B

    1.32%   

AEP Industries, Inc.

    1.11%   

CSG Systems International, Inc.

    1.06%   

Citigroup, Inc.

    1.04%   

Macy’s, Inc.

    1.04%   

Maiden Holdings Ltd.

    1.03%   

American International Group, Inc.

    1.03%   

Clicksoftware Technologies Ltd.

    1.03%   

Walt Disney Co., (The)

    1.01%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)   Long     Short  

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    16.3     27.3

P/B: Price/Book:

    1.6     4.9

Holdings:

    205        196   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $36,312        $5,183   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    8.9     2.8

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    27.4     7.8

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        5   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (unaudited) (continued)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in

Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund vs. S&P 500® Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

Long/Short Equity Fund — Institutional Class

    14.72%        12.46%        14.22%        13.68%        4.30%        4.30%   

S&P 500® Index

    25.25%        20.61%        16.88%        8.38%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above (including interest and dividend expense on short sales) are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 2% redemption fee for shares held less than 1 year.

The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of 500 large-cap stocks.

 

6      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund vs. S&P 500® Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

Long/Short Equity Fund — Investor Class

    14.41%        12.17%        13.82%        13.33%        4.55%        4.55%   

S&P 500® Index

    25.25%        20.61%        16.88%        8.38%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above (including interest and dividend expense on short sales) are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 2% redemption fee for shares held less than 1 year.

The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of 500 large-cap stocks.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        7   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder:

The Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund returned 14.28% (Institutional Class) for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The Fund lagged the 25.25% return posted by the S&P 500 Index during this time period, and an average short exposure of 47% of Fund assets accounted for the majority of underperformance.

The Fund’s long holdings rose 28.5% during the period, outperforming the Index and contributing 26.1% to overall gross performance. Short holdings rose 19.7% during the period, underperforming the Index – which is beneficial to relative performance – and detracted -9.6% from overall gross performance. On the long side, the Fund’s Technology, Energy, and Finance holdings accounted for the majority of performance during the reporting period. Short holdings in the Consumer Durables sector posted a decline during the reporting period and contributed to overall Fund results.

Turnover in the Fund’s holdings was more active on the short side than long – the portfolio managers added 86 new shorts and 75 new longs while closing 115 shorts and 134 longs. The Fund’s portfolio managers decreased the number of portfolio holdings throughout the reporting period, covering and selling positions and reallocating capital to companies with the highest levels of conviction. Given the strong equity run over the past couple of years, the average short position in the portfolio has a larger downside than upside for the average long position.

Over recent months, the U.S. economic outlook has brightened while stock market sentiment appears to have turned cloudier. After posting negative growth GDP numbers earlier in the calendar year, U.S. GDP snapped back in the third calendar quarter, growing at a 4.6% rate. However, non-U.S. prospects are not as upbeat, as GDP in the Eurozone has been stagnant and concerns remain over Asian economies, particularly Japan and China. Overall, the combination of underperforming international economies, rising political conflicts and the prospect of the Federal Reserve becoming less accommodative have put investors on edge.

The Fund ended the reporting period with approximately 50% net long exposure, with roughly 97% of capital invested long and approximately 47% invested short. Portfolio managers maintain highest net long exposures to the Health Care, Financials, and Information Technology sectors. Conversely, Fund managers are less bullish on the prospects for the Utilities, REITs, and Consumer Non-Durables sectors, evidenced by net short exposures to those sectors.

The portfolio managers managing the Fund continue to focus their efforts on purchasing shares of only those companies they deem most likely to appreciate on the long side, while selling short securities likely to fail due to a combination of valuation risk, earnings risk, and/or balance sheet risk. Our analysis process is bottom-up and rooted in the three circles framework of low valuation, positive momentum and strong business fundamentals that the portfolio managers of Boston Partners and its predecessors have been employing for over a quarter century.

Sincerely,

Joseph Feeney, CFA & Eric Connerly, CFA

Co-Portfolio Managers for the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

 

The Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund will engage in short sales which theoretically involves unlimited loss potential since the market price of securities may continuously increase. This may have the effect of increased leverage with risk of loss and cause fluctuations in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio to have disproportionately large effects or cause the NAV of the Fund generally to decline faster than it would otherwise. Investments made in small or mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile and less liquid due to limited resources or product lines and more sensitive to economic factors. The Fund may invest in more aggressive investments such as foreign securities which may expose the fund to currency and exchange rate fluctuations, derivatives (futures, options, swaps), Real Estate Investments Trusts (affected by economic factors related to the real estate industry), illiquid and high yield debt (also known as junk bonds), all of which may cause greater volatility and less liquidity. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in market conditions. The Fund may experience high portfolio turnover which may result in higher costs and capital gains.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    1.45%   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — Sponsored ADR

    0.93%   

Johnson & Johnson

    0.90%   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    0.89%   

Diamondback Energy, Inc.

    0.89%   

Pfizer, Inc.

    0.88%   

Western Digital Corp.

    0.85%   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    0.83%   

Microsoft Corp.

    0.83%   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

    0.82%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)   Long     Short  

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    17.2     24.8

P/B: Price/Book:

    2.2     2.9

Holdings:

    219        181   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $55,995        $11,089   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    18.1     15.5

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    61.2     29.3

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

8      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (unaudited) (continued)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in
Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund vs. S&P 500® Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on September 30, 2010 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     Since
Inception(1)
     

Long/Short Research Fund — Institutional Class

    14.28%        13.47%        11.81%        2.71%        2.75%   

S&P 500® Index

    25.25%        20.61%        17.94%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Adviser has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of certain fees and/or reimburse expenses until December 31, 2014 as set forth in the notes to financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect. This recoupment is reflected in the net expense ratio. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above (including interest and dividend expense on short sales) are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

For the period September 30, 2010 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of 500 large-cap stocks.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        9   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in
Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund vs. S&P 500® Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on November 29, 2010 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     Since
Inception(1)
     

Long/Short Research Fund — Investor Class

    13.99%        13.19%        10.92%        2.96%        3.00%   

S&P 500® Index

    25.25%        20.61%        17.39%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Adviser has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of certain fees and/or reimburse expenses until December 31, 2014 as set forth in the notes to financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect. This recoupment is reflected in the net expense ratio. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above (including interest and dividend expense on short sales) are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

For the period November 29, 2010 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of 500 large-cap stocks.

 

10      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder,

The Robeco Boston Partners All Cap Value Fund outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 3000® Value Index, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The Fund generated a net return of 24.52% for the Institutional Share class during the past fiscal year versus the Russell 3000 Value® index return of 23.92%. Portfolio allocation decisions drove the Fund’s outperformance for the reporting period. The Fund’s underweight exposure to REITs and Utilities, in favor of more attractive stock-specific opportunities elsewhere in the market, helped the portfolio’s relative performance. The Fund’s stock selection also outperformed the index across the majority of major economic sectors.

The biggest contributor to performance for the fiscal reporting period was Healthcare, where several names within the portfolio outperformed the Index sector. Consumer Non-Durables was also a source of performance within the game businesses, which have experienced positive business momentum and upside due to the new game console cycle and other products coming to market.

The largest detractor to performance was Technology, where a large holding within the Index, but not held within the portfolio, had performed very well over the period and therefore hurt the portfolio’s relative performance. In addition, some of the technology names held within the portfolio underperformed due in part to corporate restructuring and softer than expected top-line revenue growth .

As of the end of the reporting period, the portfolio continues to be overweight Healthcare, Technology, and Finance. The focus within Healthcare continues to be on premium businesses with strong fundamentals, high value-added products and services, and improving demographics. The portfolio’s technology holdings continue to be inexpensive relative to earnings power and their free cash flow characteristics. Recurring revenues for the holdings within the portfolio continue to look attractive as well, and there is significant earnings leverage to even a modest increase in revenue growth. Within Finance, the portfolio maintains its overweight to insurance as well, but we are being highly selective in the property & casualty markets where (private) investor capital has poured in, jeopardizing returns on capital. The portfolio also maintains exposure to credit sensitive names and is tilted toward top-tier banks, whose valuations and fundamentals should make them longer-term outperformers. We continue to avoid Utilities and REITs given their lofty valuations.

Looking ahead, we will continue to vet investment opportunities across the entire market within our three-circle discipline of attractive valuation, sound fundamentals and a catalyst for improvement. The portfolio’s valuation edge and quality advantage over the benchmark has positioned it favorably for the longer term.

Sincerely,

Duilio Romallo, CFA—Portfolio Manager, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

 

The Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund may invest in small cap companies. These companies tend to be new, in early development, or in transition. Usually, small caps are rapidly evolving, generating a new product or service, or taking advantage of a new market. However, returns may be inconsistent and may fluctuate widely over the short term, and small stock valuations tend to be more sensitive to market psychology. The Fund may invest in more aggressive investments such as foreign securities which may expose the fund to currency and exchange rate fluctuations, illiquid securities and options (a type of derivative), all of which may cause greater volatility and less liquidity. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in market conditions. As a result, an investment in the Fund should be part of a carefully diversified portfolio.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    3.09%   

Amgen, Inc.

    3.04%   

EMC Corp.

    2.19%   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    2.13%   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    2.12%   

Citigroup, Inc.

    2.09%   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    1.92%   

Johnson & Johnson

    1.91%   

Flextronics International Ltd.

    1.81%   

Sanofi — ADR

    1.68%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)      

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    16.3

P/B: Price/Book:

    2.0

Holdings:

    132   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $72,336   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    15.7

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    67.7

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        11   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND (unaudited) (continued)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund vs. Russell Indices

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the Russell indices are unmanaged, do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

All-Cap Value Fund — Institutional Class

    24.52%        22.39%        16.59%        10.85%        0.97%        0.70%   

Russell 3000® Value Index

    23.92%        21.35%        16.55%        8.24%        n/a        n/a   

Russell 3000® Index(1)

    24.74%        20.65%        17.22%        8.83%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com.

 

(1)

This is not a benchmark of the Fund. Results of index performance are presented for general comparative purposes.

The Russell 3000® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the broad value segment of the U.S. equity value universe. It includes those Russell 3000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.

 

12      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund vs. Russell Indices

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the Russell indices are unmanaged, do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

All-Cap Value Fund — Investor Class

    24.29%        22.15%        16.34%        10.60%        1.22%        0.95%   

Russell 3000® Value Index

    23.92%        21.35%        16.55%        8.24%        n/a        n/a   

Russell 3000® Index(1)

    24.74%        20.65%        17.22%        8.83%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com.

 

(1)

This is not a benchmark of the Fund. Results of index performance are presented for general comparative purposes.

The Russell 3000® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the broad value segment of the U.S. equity value universe. It includes those Russell 3000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        13   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO WPG SMALL/MICRO CAP VALUE FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder,

The Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000® Value Index, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The Fund generated a net return of 17.46% during the past fiscal year versus the Russell 2000 Value® index return of 18.10%. The fiscal year began with expectations for continued economic growth and potential for a rising rate environment. However, weakness in Europe and dollar strength has sent yields on U.S. treasuries downward. Federal Reserve Chairwomen Janet Yellen delivered her July 2014 testimony to the Senate Banking Committee where she cited the stretched valuations of small-cap companies driving the Russell 2000 Value Index down over 8% for the month. After a short-lived rally, equity markets again sold-off with more disappointing economic data and growth outlooks out of Europe and Asia. With this environment as a backdrop, small-cap equities severely underperformed large-caps. Our results were not immune to the asset flows in the fiscal year.

In the 2014 fiscal year, both stock selection and sector attribution contributed to results. The biggest contributors from stock selection were the Health Care, Transportation and Capital Goods sectors. Medical device manufacturers and instrument suppliers benefitted from company specific turnaround efforts and renewed demand from hospitals. In addition, our holdings in airlines benefitted from improved revenue per passenger and load factors. In response to the current environment we have slightly increased our weightings in Energy and REITs and decreased our weightings in Finance.

Detracting from returns were the Technology and Finance sectors. Technology holdings experienced weakness due to reduced capital spending for equipment and muted hospital demand for IT services. Finance holdings suffered from regulatory intervention in specific names causing company specific weakness despite no deterioration in fundamentals.

Looking ahead, we continue to build positions in overly punished small-cap names, particularly in those tied to domestic capital spending. We are increasingly finding securities where estimates have been revised downward and valuations seem reasonable on an absolute and relative basis. Further, given the U.S. GDP outlook of 3% growth, small-cap stocks should perform well as earnings growth and GDP have historically shown significant correlation. As multi-nationals are expected to report mixed results during the next earnings season, with Europe and Asia weighing on outlooks, we continue to focus on names that will benefit from US strength. We expect domestic energy production and infrastructure spending to remain tailwinds to earnings for these companies and have positioned ourselves accordingly.

Sincerely,

Richard Shuster, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

 

Value investing involves buying the stocks of companies that are out of favor or are undervalued. This may adversely affect The Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund’s value and return. Investments in Real Estate Investment Trusts may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry. There is risk that the special situation might not occur which could have a negative impact on the securities. The purchase of rights and warrants involves risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of the right or warrant. The Fund may invest in securities that are traded only in the over-the-counter market as well as small cap and micro cap securities. These securities may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

Approach Resources, Inc.

    2.93%   

Geo Group, Inc., (The)

    2.42%   

Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc.

    2.17%   

Libbey, Inc.

    1.82%   

Accuray, Inc.

    1.81%   

Scorpio Tankers, Inc.

    1.81%   

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.

    1.70%   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

    1.56%   

Popular Inc

    1.52%   

MDC Partners, Inc., Class A

    1.47%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)      

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    16.3

P/B: Price/Book:

    1.4

Holdings:

    117   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $1,313   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    2.3

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    11.4

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

14      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO WPG SMALL/MICRO CAP VALUE FUND (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in

Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund vs. Russell 2000® Value Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on August 31, 2004 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the Russell 2000® Value Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     1 Year     3 Year     5 Year     10 Year      

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund — Institutional Class

    17.46%        22.25%        16.37%        8.31%        1.44%        1.10%   

Russell 2000® Value Index

    18.10%        18.78%        15.74%        8.42%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive certain fees and/or reimburse expenses until December 31, 2016 as set forth in the notes to financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for a three year period from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 if operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10%. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. This rate can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 2% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

The Russell 2000® Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        15   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder,

The Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund returned 23.39% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. During that same period the MSCI World Index returned 21.74%.

Global Markets were up smartly during the fiscal year. Of course the precipitous rise was not steady, as investors’ appetite for risk remains sensitive to macro-economic and geopolitical events. Several times during the fiscal year markets retracted sharply in response to underwhelming economic reports and the vacillating intensity of the Ukraine conflict. Global markets would then subsequently advance to new highs following: positive economic reports, chatter about central bank stimulus, or a reduction of tensions in the Ukraine. These same forces will continue to imbue markets with volatility for the foreseeable future, especially given the mixed economic backdrop. Over recent months, the U.S. economic outlook has brightened while stock market sentiment appears to have turned cloudier. After posting negative growth GDP numbers earlier in the calendar year, U.S. GDP snapped back in the third calendar quarter, growing at a 4.6% rate. However, non-U.S. prospects are not as upbeat, as GDP in the Eurozone has been stagnant and concerns remain over Asian economies, particularly Japan and China. Overall, the combination of underperforming international economies, rising political conflicts and the prospect of the Federal Reserve becoming less accommodative have put investors on edge.

Regardless of the above commentary, our strategy remains focused on identifying dislocations between underlying fundamentals and valuations on an individual company basis. As a result, security selection drives our performance. Stock selection was the dominant contributor to the portfolio’s out-performance, and stock selection within all economic sectors was positive. The largest contributions at the sector level were within the Consumer Staples, Industrials, Energy, and Health Care sectors. The largest individual contribution came from the portfolio’s overweight position in a healthcare distribution company. Shares of the company traded higher following better-than-expected earnings, and an announcement that the company would make an accretive acquisition. Two overweight Technology stocks also made significant positive contributions to performance following good earnings results, and the news that one of the companies would be acquired at a premium.

At the sector level, the portfolio is currently overweight the Health Care and Materials sectors. The overweight position in the Health Care sector is concentrated in global pharmaceuticals and U.S. healthcare distribution. The Materials sector overweight is concentrated in container and packaging companies. The largest underweight sectors are Consumer Staples and Utilities. Stocks in both sectors continue to trade at unattractive valuations. The Financials sector remains underweight, largely due to the absence of European Banks in the portfolio, as we remain concerned about European Bank capitalization levels. We are also underweight Asia. Japanese opportunities are incremental as we remain skeptical of the earnings support from Abenomics. Asia ex-Japan looks interesting from a valuation perspective, yet earnings weakness remains.

We expect global economic data to remain mixed in the near term as North America continues to show signs of strength, while growth elsewhere is subdued. Geo-political events and macro-economic news will continue to exert substantial influence on markets for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, this dynamic creates the opportunity for strong security selection through fundamental and valuation dislocations. The portfolio remains well positioned with holdings that reflect Boston Partners’ three circle characteristics – attractive valuations, solid fundamentals, and identifiable catalysts.

Sincerely,

Christopher K. Hart, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Robeco Boston Partners

Global Equity Fund

 

International investing is subject to special risks including, but not limited to, currency risk associated with securities denominated in other than US dollar, which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. Investment in emerging market securities may increase these risks. The Fund may invest in small and mid cap companies which tend to be more volatile and may fluctuate in the opposite direction of the broader stock market average, and in illiquid securities which involves risk of limitations on resale and uncertainty determining valuation. An investment in the Fund should be part of a carefully diversified portfolio.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

Apple, Inc.

    3.10%   

Microsoft Corp.

    3.09%   

Liberty Global PLC, Series C

    2.80%   

CVS Health Corp.

    2.67%   

Comcast Corp., Class A

    2.65%   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

    2.14%   

Roche Holding AG, Participation Certificate

    2.07%   

McKesson Corp.

    1.99%   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    1.80%   

Johnson & Johnson

    1.72%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)      

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    15.0

P/B: Price/Book:

    2.1

Holdings:

    98   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $88,661   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    15.5

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    54.6

 

16      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND (unaudited)  (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in
Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund vs. MSCI World Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on December 30, 2011 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the MSCI World Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Average Annual Total Return      Gross
Expense
Ratio
     Net
Expense
Ratio
 
    

1 Year

   

Since
Inception(1)

       

Global Equity Fund — Institutional Class

    23.39%        20.09%         3.05%         0.95%   

MSCI World Index

    21.74%        19.19%         n/a         n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

For the period December 30, 2011 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

The MSCI World Index is an unmanaged index that measures the equity market performance of developed markets.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        17   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder,

The Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund returned 18.18% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. During that same period, the MSCI EAFE Index returned 16.92%.

Global Markets were up smartly during the fiscal year. Of course the precipitous rise was not steady, as investors’ appetite for risk remains sensitive to macro-economic and geopolitical events. Several times during the past fiscal year markets retracted sharply in response to underwhelming economic reports and the vacillating intensity of the Ukraine conflict. Global markets would then subsequently advance to new highs following: positive economic reports, chatter about central bank stimulus, or a reduction of tensions in the Ukraine. These same forces will continue to imbue markets with volatility for the foreseeable future, especially given the mixed economic backdrop. Over recent months, the U.S. economic outlook has brightened while stock market sentiment appears to have turned cloudier. After posting negative growth GDP numbers earlier in the calendar year, U.S. GDP snapped back in the third calendar quarter, growing at a 4.6% rate. However, non-U.S. prospects are not as upbeat, as GDP in the Eurozone has been stagnant and concerns remain over Asian economies, particularly Japan and China. Overall, the combination of underperforming international economies, rising political conflicts and the prospect of the Federal Reserve becoming less accommodative have put investors on edge.

Regardless of the above commentary, our strategy remains focused on identifying dislocations between underlying fundamentals and valuations on an individual company basis. As a result, security selection drives our performance. Stock selection was the dominant contributor to the portfolio’s out-performance, and stock selection within all economic sectors was positive. The largest contributions at the sector level were within the Industrials, Energy, and the Consumer Staples sectors. The largest individual contribution came from holdings that were involved in acquisitions. Shares of an off-benchmark technology company rose after it received approval to make an acquisition that is widely viewed as accretive. Shares of an overweight health care company rose following the announcement that it was the target of an acquisition.

At the sector level, the portfolio is currently overweight the Health Care and Technology sectors. The overweight position in the Health Care sector is concentrated in global pharmaceuticals. The largest underweight sectors are Financials and Utilities. The Financials sector remains underweight, largely due to the absence of European Banks in the portfolio. We remain concerned about European Bank capitalization levels. Utilities continue to trade at unattractive valuations.

We expect global economic data to remain mixed in the near term as North America continues to show signs of strength, while growth elsewhere is subdued. Geo-political events and macro-economic news will continue to exert substantial influence on markets for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, this dynamic creates the opportunity for strong security selection through fundamental and valuation dislocations. The portfolio remains well positioned with holdings that reflect Boston Partners’ three circle characteristics—attractive valuations, solid fundamentals, and identifiable catalysts.

Sincerely,

Christopher K. Hart, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund

 

International investing is subject to special risks including, but not limited to, currency risk associated with securities denominated in other than US dollar, which may be affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, political, social or economic instability, and differences in taxation, auditing and other financial practices. Investment in emerging market securities may increase these risks. The Fund may invest in small and mid cap companies which tend to be more volatile and may fluctuate in the opposite direction of the broader stock market average, and in illiquid securities which involves risk of limitations on resale and uncertainty determining valuation. An investment in the Fund should be part of a carefully diversified portfolio.

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

Liberty Global PLC, Series C

    3.19%   

Roche Holding AG, Participation Certificate

    3.14%   

Novartis AG, Registered Shares

    2.78%   

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

    2.64%   

Sanofi

    2.58%   

Stock Spirits Group PLC

    2.04%   

Aurelius AG

    2.00%   

Cap Gemini SA

    1.84%   

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    1.76%   

Safran SA

    1.75%   

 

Portfolio Review as of (8/31/2014)      

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    13.1

P/B: Price/Book:

    1.6

Holdings:

    84   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $51,829   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    14.3

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    29.6

 

18      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in

Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund vs. MSCI EAFE Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on December 30, 2011 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the MSCI EAFE Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
       Average Annual Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
     Net
Expense
Ratio
 
    

1 Year

   

Since
Inception(1)

      

International Equity Fund — Institutional Class

    18.18%        17.81%        3.18%         0.95%   

MSCI EAFE Index

    16.92%        17.02%        n/a         n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

For the period December 30, 2011 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

The MSCI EAFE Index is an unmanaged index that measures the equity market performance of developed markets excluding the US and Canada.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        19   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (unaudited)

 

Dear Shareholder:

The Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund (Institutional Class) returned 3.00% since its inception on December 31, 2013 through the fiscal period ended August 31, 2014. The Fund lagged the 7.20% return posted by the MSCI World Index during this time period, and an average short exposure of 49% of Fund assets accounted for the majority of underperformance.

The Fund’s long holdings rose 8.2% during the period, outperforming the Index and contributing 6.6% to overall gross performance. Short holdings rose 2.6% during the period, underperforming the Index – which is beneficial to relative performance – and detracted -0.4% from overall gross performance. On the long side, the Fund’s Health Care, Energy, and Technology holdings accounted for the majority of performance during the period. Short holdings in the Consumer Non-Durables, Consumer Services, and Communications sectors contributed to overall Fund results.

Turnover in the Fund’s holdings was more active on the short side than long – the portfolio managers added 81 new shorts and 54 new longs while closing 98 shorts and 62 longs. The Fund’s portfolio managers decreased the number of portfolio holdings throughout the fiscal period, covering and selling positions and reallocating capital to companies with the highest levels of conviction. Given the strong equity run over the past couple of years, the average short position in the portfolio has a larger downside than upside for the average long position.

Over recent months, the U.S. economic outlook has brightened while stock market sentiment appears to have turned cloudier. After posting negative growth GDP numbers earlier in the calendar year, U.S. GDP snapped back in the third calendar quarter, growing at a 4.6% rate. However, non-U.S. prospects are not as upbeat, as GDP in the Eurozone has been stagnant and concerns remain over Asian economies, particularly Japan and China. Overall, the combination of underperforming international economies, rising political conflicts and the prospect of the Federal Reserve becoming less accommodative have put investors on edge.

The Fund ended the fiscal period with approximately 44% net long exposure, with roughly 95% of capital invested long and approximately 51% invested short. Portfolio managers maintain highest net long exposures to the Health Care, Financials, and Information Technology sectors as well as the North American region. Conversely, Fund managers are least bullish on the prospects for Utilities, Telecommunications, and Consumer Non-Durables sectors, evidenced by low net exposures to those sectors.

The portfolio managers managing the Fund continue to focus their efforts on purchasing shares of only those companies they deem most likely to appreciate on the long side, while selling short securities likely to fail due to a combination of valuation risk, earnings risk, and/or balance sheet risk. Our analysis process is bottom-up and rooted in the three circles framework of low valuation, positive momentum and strong business fundamentals that the portfolio managers of Boston Partners and its predecessors have been employing for over a quarter century.

Sincerely,

Christopher Hart, CFA & Joshua Jones, CFA

Portfolio Manager and Associate Portfolio Manager for the Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Equity Fund

 

Top Ten Positions (as of 8/31/14)   % of Net Assets  

Apple, Inc.

    3.11%   

Microsoft Corp.

    3.07%   

Liberty Global PLC, Series C

    2.77%   

Comcast Corp., Class A

    2.61%   

CVS Health Corp.

    2.57%   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

    2.11%   

Roche Holding AG, Participation Certificate

    2.03%   

McKesson Corp.

    1.94%   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    1.78%   

Johnson & Johnson

    1.68%   

 

Portfolio Review (as of 8/31/14)   Long     Short  

P/E: Price/Earnings:

    15.2     25.1

P/B: Price/Book:

    2.1     2.9

Holdings:

    100        135   

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (millions):

    $89,227        $11,232   

ROE: Return on Equity:

    15.5     16.9

OROA: Operating Return on Operating Assets:

    54.8     28.6
   

 

20      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (unaudited) (continued)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $100,000 Investment in Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund vs. MSCI World Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $100,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on December 31, 2013 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the MSCI World Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Period Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     Since
Inception (1)
     

Global Long/Short Fund — Institutional Class

    3.00%        5.44%        3.27%   

MSCI World Index

    7.20%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above (including interest and dividend expense on short sales) are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

For the period December 31, 2013 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

The MSCI World Index is an unmanaged index that measures the equity market performance of developed markets.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        21   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (unaudited) (concluded)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund vs. MSCI World Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $10,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on April 11, 2014 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the MSCI World Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

 
For The Period Ended August 31, 2014   
   
     Total Return     Gross
Expense
Ratio
    Net
Expense
Ratio
 
     Since
Inception (1)
     

Global Long/Short Fund — Investor Class

    4.36%        5.69%        3.52%   

MSCI World Index

    6.72%        n/a        n/a   

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Robeco Investment Management, Inc. has contractually agreed, until at least December 31, 2014, to waive a portion of its advisory fee and agreed to reimburse a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses, if necessary, to maintain the expense ratio as set forth in the notes to the financial statements. Furthermore, the Adviser is entitled to recoup fees foregone or expenses reimbursed for the first three years the advisory agreement is in effect. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no assumption of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. The Fund’s annual operating expense ratios above (including interest and dividend expense on short sales) are as stated in the current prospectus. These rates can fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-261-4073 or visit our web site at www.robecoinvest.com. There is a 1% redemption fee for shares held less than 60 days.

 

(1)

For the period April 11, 2014 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014.

The MSCI World Index is an unmanaged index that measures the equity market performance of developed markets.

 

22      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLES (unaudited)

 

 

As a shareholder of the Fund(s), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution fees and other Fund expenses. The examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund(s) and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying tables is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

Expense Table

    Beginning Account
Value
March 1, 2014
    Ending Account
Value
August 31, 2014
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Expenses
Paid During
Period*
 
Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,032.80        1.18     $6.05   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,019.26        1.18     6.01   

Investor

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,031.20        1.43     $7.32   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,018.00        1.43     7.27   
Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,139.90        4.56 %(1)      $24.60   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,002.22        4.56 %(1)      23.01   

Investor

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,138.20        4.82 %(1)      $25.98   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,000.91        4.82 %(1)      24.31   
Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,045.60        2.65 %(1)      $13.66   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,011.85        2.65 %(1)      13.44   

Investor

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,044.60        2.90 %(1)      $14.95   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,010.59        2.90 %(1)      14.70   

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        23   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLES (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

    Beginning Account
Value
March 1, 2014
    Ending Account
Value
August 31, 2014
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Expenses
Paid During
Period*
 
Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,082.40        0.70     $3.67   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,021.68        0.70     3.57   

Investor

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,081.20        0.95     $4.98   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,020.42        0.95     4.84   
Robeco Boston Partners WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,041.30        1.27     $6.53   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,018.80        1.27     6.46   
Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,049.10        0.96     $4.96   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,020.37        0.96     4.89   
Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,000.70        0.95     $4.79   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,020.42        0.95     4.84   
Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund        

Institutional

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,033.10        3.88 %(1)      $19.88   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,005.65        3.88 %(1)      19.61   

Investor**

       

Actual

    $1,000.00        $1,043.60        4.12 %(1)      $16.03   

Hypothetical

    1,000.00        1,004.44        4.12 %(1)      20.82   

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized six-month expense ratios in the table above, which include waived fees or reimbursed expenses, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184) in the most recent fiscal half-year, then divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period. The Fund’s ending account values on the first line in each table are based on the actual six-month total return of 3.28% and 3.12% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II; 13.99% and 13.82% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund; 4.56% and 4.46% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund; 8.24% and 8.12% for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund; 4.13% for the Institutional Class of the WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, 4.91% for the Institutional Class of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, 0.07% for the Institutional Class of the Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund and 3.31% and 4.36% (since commencement of operations on April 11, 2014) for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund.

 

** Expenses are equal to the Investor Class of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund’s’ annualized expense ratio for the period beginning April 11, 2014 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2014 of 4.12%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent period (139) then divided by 365 days to reflect the days in the period. For comparison purposes, the hypothetical expenses are as if the Investor Class had been in existence from March 1, 2014 and are equal to the Investor Class’ annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period (184), then divided by 365 to reflect the period.

 

(1)

These amounts include dividends paid on securities which the Funds have sold short (“short-sale dividends”) and related interest expense. The amount of short-sale dividends and related interest expense was 2.13% and 1.23% of average net assets for the six-month period ended August 31, 2014 for both the Institutional Class and Investor Class of the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, respectively, and 1.91% and 1.89% of average net assets for the Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund.

 

24      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY TABLES (unaudited)

 

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Consumer Services

    19.8   $ 42,544,034   

Finance

    18.5        39,699,441   

Capital Goods

    14.3        30,698,839   

Technology

    9.5        20,445,651   

Real Estate Investment Trust

    9.5        20,435,951   

Health Care

    9.4        20,040,780   

Basic Industries

    3.9        8,228,325   

Conumer Non-Durables

    3.7        7,987,837   

Consumer Durables

    3.2        6,939,239   

Energy

    2.8        5,890,965   

Utilities

    0.9        1,863,924   

Transportation

    0.8        1,778,245   

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL

    4.4        9,407,600   

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

    (0.7     (1,432,574
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 214,528,257   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Consumer Services

    15.4   $ 136,585,718   

Technology

    14.9        132,218,333   

Finance

    14.7        130,491,174   

Energy

    12.0        106,200,038   

Basic Industries

    11.0        97,990,846   

Health Care

    10.3        91,433,966   

Capital Goods

    8.5        75,512,891   

Communications

    5.2        46,196,102   

Consumer Non-Durables

    4.2        37,263,331   

Consumer Durables

    2.0        17,791,817   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

    1.0        9,221,916   

Transportation

    0.2        1,568,450   

OPTIONS PURCHASED

    0.1        989,055   

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL

    3.6        31,865,745   

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

    (60.0     (532,618,566

WRITTEN OPTIONS

    0.0        (14,900

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    56.9        505,431,587   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 888,127,503   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Finance

    17.9   $ 958,934,246   

Technology

    15.9        847,719,853   

Health Care

    13.0        695,737,078   

Consumer Services

    11.2        600,795,755   

Energy

    11.2        596,831,153   

Capital Goods

    10.0        532,108,219   

Basic Industries

    6.5        345,468,748   

Consumer Non-Durables

    3.6        191,013,203   

Communications

    3.1        168,307,327   

Consumer Durables

    2.6        139,236,915   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

    1.2        65,984,881   

Transportation

    0.3        18,036,241   

WARRANTS

    0.0        796,158   

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

    (46.6     (2,494,330,684

WRITTEN OPTIONS

    (0.1     (2,755,524

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    50.2        2,684,753,227   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 5,348,636,796   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Finance

    26.6   $ 254,138,039   

Technology

    18.2        173,783,943   

Health Care

    17.0        162,103,567   

Energy

    10.3        98,085,672   

Consumer Services

    8.7        82,930,274   

Capital Goods

    5.7        54,069,418   

Consumer Non-Durables

    4.4        42,037,251   

Consumer Durables

    2.9        27,855,115   

Communications

    2.3        22,241,791   

Basic Industries

    1.3        11,956,967   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

    0.1        684,314   

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL

    0.5        5,021,034   

RIGHTS

    0.0          

WRITTEN OPTIONS

    (0.1     (796,240

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    2.1        19,953,837   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 954,064,982   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        25   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY TABLES (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

ROBECO WPG SMALL/MICRO CAP VALUE FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Finance

    20.6   $ 9,479,613   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

    12.5        5,745,009   

Energy

    11.5        5,273,222   

Consumer Services

    10.2        4,691,438   

Technology

    9.7        4,454,926   

Capital Goods

    9.0        4,162,008   

Transportation

    6.7        3,080,372   

Health Care

    4.2        1,948,116   

Utilities

    4.1        1,883,326   

Consumer Durables

    2.8        1,286,784   

Consumer Non-Durables

    2.7        1,239,704   

Basic Industries

    1.8        819,244   

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL

    12.6        5,806,836   

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

    (8.4     (3,862,569
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 46,008,029   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Consumer Discretionary

    18.8   $ 11,267,045   

Health Care

    16.2        9,736,571   

Finance

    14.6        8,787,687   

Information Technology

    14.0        8,371,928   

Industrials

    9.5        5,719,385   

Materials

    8.9        5,359,671   

Energy

    8.9        5,356,249   

Consumer Staples

    5.5        3,328,136   

Telecommunication Services

    1.4        839,202   

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    2.2        1,321,216   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 60,087,090   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Consumer Discretionary

    19.8   $ 2,769,393   

Health Care

    17.3        2,416,075   

Financials

    15.0        2,097,661   

Industrials

    10.4        1,452,709   

Materials

    9.1        1,270,275   

Information Technology

    7.6        1,069,768   

Consumer Staples

    6.3        885,917   

Energy

    5.9        831,457   

Telecommunication Services

    2.9        404,058   

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    5.7        795,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 13,992,313   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND

 

Security Type/Sector Classification   % of Net
Assets
    Value  

COMMON STOCK

   

Consumer Discretionary

    17.3   $ 6,978,826   

Health Care

    15.4        6,181,998   

Financials

    14.1        5,677,913   

Information Technology

    13.9        5,580,903   

Industrials

    10.4        4,165,685   

Energy

    9.3        3,755,284   

Materials

    8.5        3,407,130   

Consumer Staples

    5.3        2,132,938   

Telecommunication Services

    1.4        568,086   

WARRANTS

    0.0        3,838   

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

    (47.5     (19,097,186

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

    51.9        20,888,929   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    100.0   $ 40,244,344   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

26      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

COMMON STOCK—96.3%

   

Basic Industries—3.9%

   

Cloud Peak Energy, Inc. *

    93,205      $ 1,464,250   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. *

    329,495        4,214,241   

PolyOne Corp.

    15,894        623,363   

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.

    31,950        1,368,738   

Sensient Technologies Corp.

    9,940        557,733   
   

 

 

 
      8,228,325   
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—14.3%

   

Actuant Corp., Class A

    54,525        1,839,128   

Aegion Corp. *

    59,115        1,457,776   

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.

    17,860        379,346   

Brady Corp., Class A

    28,173        749,965   

Cabot Corp.

    27,700        1,517,406   

Cubic Corp.

    20,740        925,834   

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

    19,360        1,390,822   

Drew Industries, Inc.

    27,495        1,220,503   

Globe Specialty Metals, Inc.

    85,255        1,751,138   

Granite Construction, Inc.

    33,525        1,182,427   

Hillenbrand, Inc.

    33,815        1,130,774   

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

    17,650        1,802,241   

LSB Industries, Inc. *

    29,955        1,199,698   

MRC Global, Inc. *

    63,230        1,569,369   

Mueller Industries, Inc.

    35,420        1,035,681   

Orion Marine Group, Inc. *

    129,185        1,306,060   

Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc. *

    26,875        643,925   

Stock Building Supply Holdings, Inc. *

    83,305        1,416,185   

Terex Corp.

    44,520        1,665,493   

WESCO International, Inc. *

    24,610        2,066,994   

World Fuel Services Corp.

    100,227        4,448,074   
   

 

 

 
      30,698,839   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Durables—3.2%

   

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. *

    39,310        2,300,421   

Thor Industries, Inc.

    46,130        2,477,642   

Tower International, Inc. *

    64,455        2,161,176   
   

 

 

 
      6,939,239   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—3.7%

   

Alliance One International, Inc. *

    53,870        119,591   

Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.

    27,410        875,475   

Matthews International Corp., Class A

    11,720        540,878   

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A

    30,675        1,371,786   

Skechers U.S.A., Inc., Class A *

    21,970        1,282,389   

Steven Madden Ltd. *

    40,677        1,382,611   

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. *

    54,500        1,281,295   

Universal Corp. (a)

    21,490        1,133,812   
   

 

 

 
      7,987,837   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—19.8%

   

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Class A (a)

    86,535        3,617,163   

ABM Industries, Inc.

    31,465        836,969   

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

    153,070        2,155,226   

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. *

    40,215        2,802,181   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Services—(continued)

   

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. *

    64,385      $ 1,119,655   

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

    51,315        1,138,167   

Brink’s Co., (The)

    44,000        1,204,720   

CBIZ, Inc. *

    59,020        507,572   

Ennis, Inc.

    23,535        339,610   

Finish Line, Inc., (The), Class A

    102,715        3,043,445   

FTD Cos, Inc. *

    46,235        1,531,303   

FTI Consulting, Inc. *

    41,395        1,535,754   

G&K Services, Inc., Class A

    19,867        1,110,367   

Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

    19,745        1,582,759   

Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.

    42,795        926,940   

ICF International, Inc. *

    30,665        1,035,864   

International Speedway Corp., Class A

    44,118        1,477,512   

KAR Auction Services, Inc.

    85,140        2,567,822   

Knoll, Inc.

    51,723        946,014   

Korn/Ferry International *

    20,295        613,924   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. *

    51,670        1,134,673   

MAXIMUS, Inc.

    25,840        1,064,608   

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc., (The)

    46,920        2,535,088   

Navigant Consulting, Inc. *

    133,485        2,174,471   

Papa Murphy’s Holdings Inc. * (a)

    132,591        1,164,149   

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

    34,215        953,230   

RPX Corp. *

    114,915        1,745,559   

Steiner Leisure Ltd. *

    8,705        370,137   

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    15,880        404,940   

Viad Corp.

    16,125        353,783   

XO Group, Inc. *

    47,005        550,429   
   

 

 

 
      42,544,034   
   

 

 

 

Energy—2.8%

   

Bristow Group, Inc.

    18,060        1,318,019   

Contango Oil & Gas Co. *

    11,920        472,270   

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. *

    26,245        893,642   

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. *

    36,340        992,809   

Rosetta Resources, Inc. *

    19,940        997,000   

Western Refining, Inc.

    26,160        1,217,225   
   

 

 

 
      5,890,965   
   

 

 

 

Finance—18.5%

   

Ameris Bancorp

    25,993        594,980   

AMERISAFE, Inc.

    20,345        767,617   

Apollo Investment Corp.

    72,940        639,684   

BBCN Bancorp, Inc.

    147,095        2,147,587   

Centerstate Banks, Inc.

    60,235        629,456   

Columbia Banking System, Inc.

    31,140        809,951   

Essent Group Ltd. *

    33,000        694,980   

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., Class C

    8,495        279,655   

Fifth Street Finance Corp.

    101,800        1,000,694   

First American Financial Corp.

    106,620        3,022,677   

First Citizens Bancshares, Inc., Class A

    3,690        847,925   

First NBC Bank Holding Co. *

    36,735        1,179,561   

FirstMerit Corp.

    69,806        1,203,106   

Flushing Financial Corp.

    29,540        570,122   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        27   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Finance—(continued)

   

Gladstone Capital Corp.

    17,265      $ 167,298   

Global Indemnity PLC *

    15,698        424,474   

Heritage Financial Corp.

    38,000        621,680   

Infinity Property & Casualty Corp.

    12,310        841,758   

JMP Group, Inc.

    74,055        508,017   

Maiden Holdings Ltd.

    176,860        2,150,618   

Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc. * (a)

    55,290        1,935,150   

Navigators Group, Inc., (The) *

    9,810        630,293   

Nelnet, Inc., Class A

    43,306        1,904,165   

Park Sterling Corp.

    48,200        329,206   

PHH Corp. *

    81,005        1,940,880   

Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd.

    26,625        1,663,264   

Radian Group, Inc. (a)

    75,315        1,096,586   

RCS Capital Corp., Class A

    52,420        1,162,151   

Safety Insurance Group, Inc.

    11,125        614,100   

Stancorp Financial Group, Inc.

    15,390        1,008,353   

Stewart Information Services Corp.

    72,350        2,331,117   

SVB Financial Group *

    4,880        543,242   

Symetra Financial Corp.

    85,450        2,079,853   

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. *

    102,715        1,457,526   

Walter Investment Management Corp. * (a)

    46,125        1,215,394   

Washington Federal, Inc.

    31,555        686,321   
   

 

 

 
      39,699,441   
   

 

 

 

Health Care—9.4%

  

Amsurg Corp. *

    23,275        1,251,962   

Centene Corp. *

    8,450        660,199   

Chemed Corp.

    18,250        1,927,382   

Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. *

    49,135        1,100,624   

ICON PLC *

    25,085        1,242,711   

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. *

    32,625        1,630,924   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.

    91,332        1,886,006   

LHC Group, Inc. *

    19,015        489,446   

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. *

    16,600        1,241,680   

Omnicell, Inc. *

    28,230        794,675   

Owens & Minor, Inc. (a)

    29,312        1,008,333   

PAREXEL International Corp. *

    24,580        1,387,295   

Select Medical Holdings Corp.

    98,430        1,379,989   

Symmetry Medical, Inc. *

    131,520        1,212,614   

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.

    79,186        2,826,940   
   

 

 

 
      20,040,780   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—9.5%

  

Altisource Residential Corp., Class B

    28,510        699,635   

American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp.

    32,305        664,837   

American Residential Properties, Inc. *

    78,885        1,497,237   

Anworth Mortgage Asset Corp.

    135,557        703,541   

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp.

    109,610        1,379,990   

Chatham Lodging Trust

    64,610        1,493,783   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(continued)

  

Colony Financial, Inc.

    24,590      $ 551,308   

CYS Investments, Inc.

    240,980        2,272,441   

Gladstone Commercial Corp.

    19,890        363,589   

Hatteras Financial Corp.

    102,010        2,029,999   

Javelin Mortgage Investment Corp. (a)

    63,750        845,325   

MFA Financial, Inc.

    317,280        2,677,843   

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp., Class A (a)

    77,770        841,471   

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

    17,870        538,781   

Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp.

    46,017        767,103   

Two Harbors Investment Corp.

    290,025        3,109,068   
   

 

 

 
      20,435,951   
   

 

 

 

Technology—9.5%

   

Bel Fuse, Inc., Class B

    54,006        1,271,301   

Belden, Inc.

    44,470        3,249,423   

Brooks Automation, Inc.

    49,700        563,598   

Coherent, Inc. *

    11,080        714,328   

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. *

    17,215        758,149   

EnerSys, Inc.

    52,520        3,376,511   

Insight Enterprises, Inc. *

    21,550        565,472   

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. *

    17,925        294,866   

Magnachip Semiconductor Corp. *

    46,890        578,154   

NETGEAR, Inc. *

    31,855        1,058,223   

Sykes Enterprises, Inc. *

    90,555        1,896,222   

SYNNEX Corp. *

    45,775        3,192,349   

TeleTech Holdings, Inc. *

    22,415        601,843   

Teradyne, Inc.

    30,490        627,789   

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. *

    82,140        1,697,423   
   

 

 

 
      20,445,651   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.8%

  

Diana Shipping, Inc. * (a)

    43,480        462,627   

Landstar System, Inc.

    9,470        642,681   

Quality Distribution, Inc. *

    47,930        672,937   
   

 

 

 
      1,778,245   
   

 

 

 

Utilities—0.9%

   

PNM Resources, Inc.

    71,115        1,863,924   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $142,262,554)

      206,553,231   
   

 

 

 

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL—4.4%

  

BlackRock Liquidity TempFund, Institutional Shares

    9,407,600        9,407,600   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL (Cost $9,407,600)

      9,407,600   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—100.7%
(Cost $151,670,154)

      215,960,831   
   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS—(0.7)%

      (1,432,574
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 214,528,257   
   

 

 

 
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

28      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND II (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

PLC     Public Limited Company
*     Non-income producing.
(a)     All or a portion of the security is on loan (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note 1 in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock **

   $ 206,553,231       $ 206,553,231       $       $   

Securities Lending Collateral

     9,407,600         9,407,600                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 215,960,831       $ 215,960,831       $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

** See Portfolio of Investments detail for industry and security type breakout.

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        29   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

LONG POSITIONS—103.1%

   

COMMON STOCK—99.4%

   

Basic Industries—11.0%

   

AEP Industries, Inc. * †

    232,964      $ 9,866,026   

Alcoa, Inc. †

    158,475        2,632,271   

American Vanguard Corp.

    460,719        6,192,064   

Arch Coal, Inc. (a)

    704,185        2,147,764   

Barrick Gold Corp. (a)

    119,178        2,191,683   

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. * †

    249,367        6,012,238   

Cameco Corp.

    200,499        3,923,765   

Cloud Peak Energy, Inc. *

    286,326        4,498,181   

Crown Holdings, Inc. * †

    136,584        6,592,910   

Eldorado Gold Corp. (a)

    278,741        2,307,975   

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. †

    146,425        5,325,477   

Goldcorp, Inc.

    74,304        2,085,713   

Greif, Inc., Class B †

    43,250        2,298,738   

Koppers Holdings, Inc. †

    159,897        5,933,778   

Monsanto Co.

    38,280        4,427,082   

Newmont Mining Corp. †

    68,085        1,844,423   

Owens-Illinois, Inc. * †

    139,813        4,304,842   

Pan American Silver Corp. † (a)

    216,205        3,104,704   

POSCO — ADR

    45,698        3,783,794   

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

    64,237        4,491,451   

Royal Gold Inc. †

    17,425        1,354,794   

Steel Dynamics, Inc. †

    246,860        5,737,026   

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. *

    88,931        2,848,460   

Vale SA (a)

    131,614        1,718,879   

Yamana Gold, Inc.

    278,448        2,366,808   
   

 

 

 
      97,990,846   
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—8.5%

   

AECOM Technology Corp. * †

    180,866        6,843,969   

Aggreko PLC

    90,235        2,551,663   

Alamo Group, Inc.

    93,115        4,539,356   

American Woodmark Corp. *

    40,446        1,586,292   

Blount International, Inc. *

    10,516        168,046   

Cemex SAB de CV ADR * †

    344,208        4,553,872   

Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. NV

    45,868        2,908,949   

Cubic Corp. †

    82,371        3,677,041   

Fluor Corp. †

    67,257        4,969,620   

General Cable Corp. †

    123,375        2,648,861   

Global Brass & Copper Holdings, Inc. †

    447,849        6,919,267   

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. *

    377,944        2,879,933   

Joy Global, Inc. †

    93,509        5,905,093   

Orion Marine Group, Inc. * †

    311,176        3,145,989   

Preformed Line Products Co.

    18,216        1,036,490   

Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc. * †

    168,241        4,031,054   

Safran SA — ADR †

    201,474        3,284,026   

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

    47,431        4,339,937   

URS Corp. †

    102,497        6,209,268   

World Fuel Services Corp. †

    74,677        3,314,165   
   

 

 

 
      75,512,891   
   

 

 

 

Communications—5.2%

   

Angie’s List, Inc. * (a)

    344,319        2,640,927   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Communications—(continued)

   

China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. ADR (a)

    355,071      $ 6,295,409   

Comcast Corp., Class A †

    121,112        6,628,460   

Hawaiian Telcom Holdco, Inc. * †

    226,091        6,217,503   

Iridium Communications, Inc. * (a)

    1,639,520        15,411,488   

Support.Com, Inc. *

    432,205        1,041,614   

Verisign, Inc *

    89,283        5,095,827   

Yahoo!, Inc. *

    74,393        2,864,874   
   

 

 

 
      46,196,102   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Durables—2.0%

   

Cooper-Standard Holding, Inc. * †

    26,574        1,740,863   

Dorel Industries, Inc., Class B (a)

    176,200        5,989,038   

Helen of Troy Ltd. * †

    82,636        4,811,068   

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. — GDR

    8,618        5,250,848   
   

 

 

 
      17,791,817   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—4.2%

   

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. †

    65,615        3,271,564   

Avon Products, Inc.

    173,147        2,430,984   

Central Garden and Pet Co., Class A *

    267,636        2,411,400   

Crimson Wine Group Ltd * †

    277,686        2,582,480   

Dean Foods Co. (a) †

    204,581        3,310,121   

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

    37,325        4,535,734   

Hanesbrands, Inc.

    35,093        3,603,349   

Leucadia National Corp. †

    216,681        5,401,857   

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    29,062        4,917,290   

Unilever NV †

    115,239        4,798,552   
   

 

 

 
      37,263,331   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—15.4%

   

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. †

    22,604        3,083,638   

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

    66,494        3,935,780   

Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc., (The)

    66,802        3,591,276   

Conversant, Inc. *

    103,093        2,839,181   

CRA International, Inc. * †

    143,132        3,851,682   

CVS Health Corp. †

    79,916        6,349,326   

eBay, Inc. * †

    158,288        8,784,984   

Ennis, Inc. †

    293,328        4,232,723   

Express, Inc. * †

    244,174        4,233,977   

FTD Cos, Inc. *

    82,904        2,745,780   

GNC Holdings, Inc., Class A †

    150,075        5,695,346   

Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. *

    336,566        2,628,580   

Harte-Hanks, Inc. †

    432,227        3,029,911   

ITE Group PLC

    635,388        2,139,041   

Liberty Interactive Corp., Class A * †

    131,176        3,872,316   

Macy’s, Inc. †

    147,676        9,198,738   

Madison Square Garden Co. (The) *

    41,248        2,757,841   

Metalico, Inc. *

    633,749        766,836   

MTR Gaming Group, Inc. *

    437,143        1,971,515   

Outerwall, Inc. * (a)

    56,869        3,351,290   

Overstock.com, Inc. * (a)

    176,521        3,119,126   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

30      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Services—(continued)

   

Realogy Holdings Corp. * †

    90,484      $ 3,689,033   

Regis Corp. †

    233,897        3,534,184   

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Class A

    39,239        3,127,741   

SpartanNash Co.

    172,140        3,699,289   

Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

    117,945        2,193,777   

Steiner Leisure Ltd. *

    67,289        2,861,128   

Systemax, Inc. * †

    441,769        6,440,992   

Tetra Tech, Inc. †

    166,929        4,256,690   

Titan Machinery, Inc. * (a)

    170,785        2,102,363   

Tropicana Entertainment, Inc. *

    96,830        1,666,444   

Viacom, Inc., Class B †

    45,581        3,698,898   

Walgreen Co. †

    77,260        4,675,775   

Walt Disney Co., (The) †

    99,795        8,969,575   

Wyndham Worldwide Corp. †

    43,130        3,490,942   
   

 

 

 
      136,585,718   
   

 

 

 

Energy—12.0%

   

Apache Corp. †

    60,399        6,150,430   

BP PLC — Sponsored ADR

    183,416        8,774,605   

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. †

    114,083        4,968,315   

Cenovus Energy, Inc. †

    88,877        2,834,288   

Dawson Geophysical Co.

    62,895        1,422,685   

EOG Resources, Inc. †

    67,160        7,379,541   

EQT Corp. †

    45,195        4,477,017   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    44,562        4,432,137   

Gazprom OAO — Sponsored ADR

    575,906        4,139,900   

Grand Tierra Energy, Inc. *

    508,698        3,413,364   

Halliburton Co. †

    66,188        4,474,971   

Legacy Oil + Gas, Inc. *

    466,275        3,352,517   

Lukoil OAO — Sponsored ADR

    44,769        2,485,127   

McDermott International, Inc. * (a)

    362,806        2,612,203   

Newfield Exploration Co. *

    60,061        2,691,934   

Occidental Petroleum Corp. †

    80,148        8,313,752   

Ocean Rig UDW, Inc.

    273,763        5,072,828   

Rosetta Resources, Inc. * †

    69,898        3,494,900   

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A — ADR

    60,547        4,902,491   

Schlumberger Ltd. †

    76,098        8,343,385   

Suncor Energy, Inc.

    162,340        6,670,551   

Talisman Energy, Inc. †

    392,725        3,954,741   

TGC Industries, Inc. *

    459,589        1,838,356   
   

 

 

 
      106,200,038   
   

 

 

 

Finance—14.7%

   

ACE Ltd. †

    62,989        6,697,620   

AerCap Holdings NV * †

    124,021        5,884,796   

American International Group, Inc. †

    162,951        9,135,033   

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. †

    102,228        4,929,434   

Bank of America Corp.

    389,902        6,273,523   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B * †

    85,736        11,767,266   

Capital Southwest Corp.

    158,065        5,785,179   

Century Bancorp, Inc., Class A †

    36,535        1,314,529   

CIT Group, Inc.

    58,382        2,800,001   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Finance—(continued)

   

Citigroup, Inc. †

    179,287      $ 9,260,174   

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. †

    91,301        5,301,849   

ePlus, Inc. *

    100,870        5,897,869   

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. †

    4,453        2,046,109   

Flushing Financial Corp. †

    96,517        1,862,778   

HF Financial Corp. †

    81,322        1,089,715   

JPMorgan Chase & Co. †

    91,261        5,425,466   

Loews Corp. †

    109,341        4,782,575   

Maiden Holdings Ltd. †

    755,806        9,190,601   

National Western Life Insurance Co., Class A †

    9,494        2,411,476   

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

    29,229        438,435   

PartnerRE Ltd. †

    50,077        5,593,100   

Sprott, Inc.

    3,051,064        8,362,155   

Steel Excel, Inc. * †

    127,172        4,196,676   

Validus Holdings Ltd. †

    157,215        6,148,679   

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. †

    6,143        3,896,136   
   

 

 

 
      130,491,174   
   

 

 

 

Health Care—10.3%

   

Alphatec Holdings, Inc. *

    1,277,448        1,992,819   

Amgen, Inc. †

    40,470        5,640,709   

Amsurg Corp. *

    55,056        2,961,462   

Becton, Dickinson & Co. †

    31,681        3,712,063   

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. * †

    40,238        2,378,066   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. * †

    104,586        7,810,482   

Express Scripts Holding Co. *

    67,932        5,022,213   

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA — ADR †

    196,496        6,908,799   

Hologic, Inc. *

    301,620        7,501,289   

Humana, Inc. †

    38,063        4,900,231   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings * †

    68,451        7,340,001   

LHC Group, Inc. *

    69,418        1,786,819   

MFC Industrial Ltd (a)

    212,512        1,697,971   

Omnicare, Inc. †

    67,020        4,273,865   

Pfizer, Inc. †

    198,718        5,840,322   

Sanofi — ADR †

    145,248        7,945,066   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — Sponsored ADR †

    169,158        8,884,178   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. †

    55,810        4,837,611   
   

 

 

 
      91,433,966   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.0%

  

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. †

    198,748        2,365,101   

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., Class A

    74,378        2,160,681   

Hatteras Financial Corp. †

    119,297        2,374,010   

Two Harbors Investment Corp. †

    216,616        2,322,124   
   

 

 

 
      9,221,916   
   

 

 

 
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        31   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Technology—14.9%

   

Actuate Corp. * †

    691,697      $ 3,071,135   

Alpha & Omega Semiconductor Ltd. *

    399,060        3,679,333   

Arrow Electronics, Inc. * †

    42,367        2,637,346   

Avnet, Inc. †

    50,167        2,232,933   

Celestica, Inc. *

    426,273        4,693,266   

Citrix Systems, Inc. *

    97,747        6,867,704   

Clicksoftware Technologies Ltd. * †

    1,146,669        9,127,485   

Corning, Inc. †

    151,190        3,153,823   

CSG Systems International, Inc. †

    338,411        9,380,753   

EMC Corp. †

    176,046        5,198,638   

EPIQ Systems, Inc.

    326,331        4,748,116   

Evertec, Inc.

    112,177        2,583,436   

Flextronics International Ltd. *

    244,679        2,701,256   

GSI Group, Inc. * †

    205,077        2,629,087   

Ingram Micro, Inc., Class A * †

    73,838        2,128,750   

IXYS Corp.

    243,088        2,914,625   

Jabil Circuit, Inc. †

    231,802        5,002,287   

Microsoft Corp. †

    159,587        7,250,037   

NCR Corp. * †

    216,902        7,409,372   

O2Micro International Ltd — ADR *

    894,430        2,754,844   

ON Semiconductor Corp. * †

    290,652        2,836,764   

Oracle Corp. †

    138,372        5,746,589   

Pegasystems, Inc.

    230,877        5,125,469   

Quality Systems, Inc.

    115,637        1,810,875   

Rovi Corp. * †

    99,388        2,298,844   

Sykes Enterprises, Inc. *

    274,944        5,757,327   

TE Connectivity Ltd. †

    72,402        4,538,157   

Tech Data Corp. *

    53,945        3,641,288   

TeleNav, Inc. *

    254,709        1,754,945   

Teradata Corp. * †

    66,223        3,024,404   

Vocera Communications, Inc. *

    316,182        2,776,078   

Western Union Co., (The)

    157,033        2,743,367   
   

 

 

 
      132,218,333   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.2%

   

Aurizon Holdings Ltd.

    352,065        1,568,450   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $706,449,751)

      882,474,582   
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Contracts
       

OPTIONS PURCHASED ††—0.1%

  

Outerwall, Inc.
Call Options
Expires 01/15/16
Strike Price $60.00

    657        584,730   

Outerwall, Inc.
Call Options
Expires 01/15/16
Strike Price $65.00

    599        404,325   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL OPTIONS PURCHASED
(Cost $1,127,806)

      989,055   
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL—3.6%

  

BlackRock Liquidity TempFund Institutional Shares

    31,865,745      $ 31,865,745   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL (Cost $31,865,745)

      31,865,745   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—103.1% (Cost $739,443,302)

      915,329,382   
   

 

 

 

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT—(60.0%)

  

 

COMMON STOCK—(60.0%)

   

Basic Industries—(0.4%)

   

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    (10,438     (2,689,559

Ethanex Energy, Inc. *

    (648     (330

Kennady Diamonds, Inc. *

    (45,900     (329,697

Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corp. *

    (171,865     (407,320
   

 

 

 
      (3,426,906
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—(5.7%)

   

Aerovironment, Inc. *

    (47,356     (1,493,608

Applied Energetics, Inc. *

    (238,070     (3,214

Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. *

    (8,285     (548

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. *

    (81,292     (4,688,923

Builders FirstSource, Inc. *

    (301,640     (2,081,316

DynaMotive Energy Systems Corp. * ‡

    (72,185     (7

Installed Building Products, Inc. *

    (197,366     (2,638,783

Interface, Inc.

    (282,223     (4,806,258

Lindsay Corp.

    (29,755     (2,314,344

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

    (44,634     (5,845,269

NN, Inc.

    (118,827     (3,467,372

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. *

    (402,003     (4,450,173

Trex Co., Inc. *

    (212,318     (7,983,157

USG Corp. *

    (66,142     (1,916,134

Vulcan Materials Co.

    (55,320     (3,506,182

Wabash National Corp. *

    (386,721     (5,468,235
   

 

 

 
      (50,663,523
   

 

 

 

Communications—(4.7%)

   

CTC Communications Group, Inc. * ‡

    (98,900     0   

eGain Communications Corp. *

    (142,473     (930,349

Equinix, Inc. *

    (27,657     (6,036,417

Facebook, Inc., Class A *

    (23,378     (1,749,142

Grubhub, Inc. *

    (164,046     (6,305,928

Interliant, Inc. * ‡

    (600     0   

LivePerson, Inc. *

    (159,895     (2,064,244

Marchex, Inc., Class B

    (133,347     (1,144,117

Meetme, Inc. *

    (274,187     (630,630

Pandora Media, Inc. *

    (142,470     (3,852,389

RigNet, Inc. *

    (73,574     (3,433,699

Shutterstock, Inc. *

    (26,205     (1,855,314

Trulia, Inc. *

    (45,854     (2,825,982

Twitter, Inc. *

    (97,372     (4,844,257

WebMD Health Corp. *

    (60,216     (2,911,444

Yelp, Inc. *

    (39,358     (3,243,886
   

 

 

 
      (41,827,798
   

 

 

 
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

32      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Durables—(3.8%)

   

American Axle & Manaufacturing Holdings, Inc. *

    (222,756   $ (4,031,884

Cavco Industries, Inc. *

    (53,973     (3,855,291

GoPro, Inc., Class A *

    (92,207     (4,776,323

Mobileye NV *

    (82,230     (3,553,981

Qsound Labs, Inc. *

    (4,440     (29

Select Comfort Corp. *

    (86,244     (1,929,278

Sodastream International Ltd. *

    (75,206     (2,507,368

Standard Pacific Corp. *

    (301,269     (2,521,622

Tesla Motors, Inc. *

    (29,170     (7,867,149

Universal Electronics Inc. *

    (43,780     (2,393,453
   

 

 

 
      (33,436,378
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—(2.8%)

   

Amish Naturals, Inc. * ‡

    (25,959     0   

Black Diamond, Inc. *

    (164,600     (1,395,808

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

    (33,791     (2,673,206

Deckers Outdoor Corp. *

    (21,410     (1,974,858

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. *

    (84,151     (3,503,206

IGI Laboratories, Inc. *

    (233,174     (1,606,569

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

    (16,303     (2,173,516

Monster Beverage Corp. *

    (38,204     (3,377,616

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. *

    (85,340     (2,549,106

Quiksilver, Inc. *

    (531,952     (1,547,980

Sanderson Farms, Inc.

    (17,413     (1,624,981

Senomyx, Inc. *

    (296,601     (2,411,366

Valence Technology, Inc. * ‡

    (27,585     (982
   

 

 

 
      (24,839,194
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—(9.6%)

   

Arctic Cat, Inc.

    (94,621     (3,502,869

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. *

    (81,416     (3,034,374

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. *

    (20,391     (3,012,770

Build-A-Bear-Workshop, Inc. *

    (118,903     (1,550,495

Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., (The) *

    (60,843     (1,149,324

Container Store Group, Inc. (The) *

    (263,841     (5,577,599

Corporate Resource Services, Inc. *

    (218,896     (404,958

Fresh Market, Inc., (The) *

    (76,218     (2,541,870

inContact, Inc. *

    (229,260     (2,100,022

Mattress Firm Holding Corp. *

    (28,300     (1,621,307

Multimedia Games Holding Co., Inc. *

    (133,885     (3,723,342

Nautilus Group, Inc., (The) *

    (154,616     (1,827,561

Netflix, Inc. *

    (29,485     (14,083,215

Nutrisystem, Inc.

    (83,413     (1,361,300

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. *

    (50,949     (2,705,392

Sears Holdings Corp. *

    (44,160     (1,536,768

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. *

    (54,262     (1,678,866

Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc.

    (38,349     (1,933,173

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

    (167,656     (4,457,973

Tile Shop Holdings, Inc. *

    (404,733     (4,674,666

Tuesday Morning Corp. *

    (336,333     (5,912,734

Viggle, Inc. *

    (61     (188

VistaPrint NV *

    (55,652     (2,686,879
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Services—(continued)

   

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. *

    (66,757   $ (4,390,608

Zillow, Inc., Class A *

    (52,315     (7,505,110

zulily, Inc., Class A *

    (83,870     (2,750,936
   

 

 

 
      (85,724,299
   

 

 

 

Energy—(0.7%)

   

Beard Co. *

    (9,710     (19

CARBO Ceramics, Inc.

    (17,364     (1,868,193

Crescent Point Energy Corp.

    (28,548     (1,182,458

Neste Oil OYJ

    (149,322     (2,923,420
   

 

 

 
      (5,974,090
   

 

 

 

Finance—(1.0%)

   

Bofi Holding, Inc. *

    (41,256     (3,176,299

Janus Capital Group, Inc.

    (278,390     (3,382,439

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. *

    (169,456     (2,004,664
   

 

 

 
      (8,563,402
   

 

 

 

Health Care—(15.5%)

   

ABIOMED, Inc. *

    (132,079     (3,440,658

Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    (57,148     (1,370,409

Accelerate Diagnostics, Inc. *

    (313,000     (6,341,380

Accuray, Inc. *

    (306,780     (2,497,189

Air Methods Corp. *

    (49,780     (2,920,095

Akorn, Inc. *

    (65,150     (2,542,153

Albany Molecular Research, Inc. *

    (411,526     (8,148,215

Align Technology, Inc. *

    (43,217     (2,353,598

Ani Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    (64,971     (1,905,599

Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. *

    (114,860     (1,334,673

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    (248,768     (1,024,924

athenahealth, Inc. *

    (25,856     (3,734,641

Biotime, Inc. *

    (93,456     (290,648

BodyTel Scientific, Inc. * ‡

    (4,840     0   

CareView Communications, Inc. *

    (207,465     (117,218

Cerner Corp. *

    (47,837     (2,758,281

Concordia Healthcare Corp.

    (113,282     (3,774,556

DexCom, Inc. *

    (101,001     (4,464,244

Endologix, Inc. *

    (138,072     (1,906,774

Fluidigm Corp. *

    (50,158     (1,365,301

GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. *

    (106,935     (1,149,551

HealthStream, Inc. *

    (115,761     (3,005,156

HeartWare International, Inc. *

    (49,524     (4,016,396

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc *

    (285,772     (3,026,325

Insulet Corp. *

    (76,907     (2,777,112

Insys Therapeutics, Inc. *

    (112,613     (3,977,491

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    (11,069     (3,206,911

Intrexon Corp. *

    (193,306     (3,920,246

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. *

    (6,932     (3,258,109

IsoRay, Inc. *

    (540,269     (1,291,243

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    (115,647     (2,103,619

Lannett Co, Inc. *

    (160,416     (6,317,182

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

    (38,891     (2,023,888

Mannkind Corp. *

    (274,529     (2,023,279

MiMedx Group, Inc. *

    (516,925     (3,639,152

Mindray Medical International Ltd. — ADR

    (71,299     (2,227,381
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        33   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Health Care—(continued)

   

Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. *

    (72,629   $ (1,492,526

NanoString Technologies Inc *

    (84,331     (939,447

Neuralstem, Inc. *

    (466,549     (1,898,854

Novadaq Technologies, Inc. *

    (180,158     (2,352,863

Novavax, Inc. *

    (471,820     (2,212,836

Opko Health, Inc. *

    (155,129     (1,380,648

Organovo Holdings, Inc. *

    (354,838     (2,760,640

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. *

    (183,043     (2,615,684

Pharmacyclics, Inc. *

    (25,829     (3,212,869

Relypsa, Inc. *

    (16,506     (417,272

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. *

    (47,131     (1,080,714

Seattle Genetics, Inc. *

    (93,272     (4,104,901

Spectranetics Corp. *

    (106,656     (3,026,897

Staar Surgical Co. *

    (73,872     (850,267

Synageva Biopharma Corp. *

    (24,588     (1,774,516

TherapeuticsMD, Inc. *

    (390,346     (2,166,420

Utah Medical Products, Inc.

    (11,917     (620,757

Wright Medical Group, Inc. *

    (142,956     (4,265,807
   

 

 

 
      (137,427,515
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(0.5%)

  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    (40,895     (2,668,399

St. Joe Co., (The) *

    (87,393     (1,892,932
   

 

 

 
      (4,561,331
   

 

 

 

Technology—(12.6%)

   

3D Systems Corp. *

    (120,543     (6,450,256

ANTs Software, Inc. * ‡

    (10,334     (98

Arista Networks, Inc. *

    (35,141     (2,946,573

Ballard Power Systems, Inc. *

    (561,651     (2,128,657

Benefitfocus, Inc. *

    (95,266     (3,145,683

Capstone Turbine Corp. *

    (735,133     (918,916

Castlight Health, Inc., Class B *

    (200,968     (2,393,529

Cavium, Inc. *

    (116,461     (6,542,779

Ciena Corp. *

    (182,367     (3,773,173

Consygen, Inc. * ‡

    (200     0   

Ellie Mae, Inc. *

    (77,991     (2,792,078

Ener1, Inc. * ‡

    (102,820     (10

FireEye, Inc. *

    (59,945     (1,866,687

First Solar, Inc. *

    (34,731     (2,420,056

Guidewire Software, Inc. *

    (106,593     (4,855,311

Imageware Systems, Inc. *

    (388,259     (1,028,886

Infinera Corp. *

    (279,139     (2,953,291

Methode Electronics, Inc.

    (79,786     (2,690,384

Micron Technology, Inc. *

    (79,818     (2,602,067

Mobileiron, Inc. *

    (357,519     (4,143,645

Neonode, Inc. *

    (224,412     (679,968

Nestor, Inc. * ‡

    (15,200     (306

NetSuite, Inc. *

    (49,596     (4,346,593

Nimble Storage, Inc. *

    (159,669     (4,317,450

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. *

    (19,566     (1,662,914

Plug Power, Inc. *

    (441,015     (2,460,864

Power Solutions International, Inc. *

    (27,101     (1,852,353

Proofpoint, Inc. *

    (82,492     (3,289,781

Q2 Holdings, Inc. *

    (127,820     (1,886,623

Qlik Technologies, Inc. *

    (102,399     (2,890,724

SanDisk Corp.

    (45,032     (4,411,335

SciQuest Inc *

    (135,112     (2,157,739
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Technology—(continued)

   

ServiceNow, Inc. *

    (29,985   $ (1,832,983

Sonus Networks, Inc. *

    (877,799     (3,309,302

Splunk, Inc. *

    (93,358     (5,036,664

Stratasys Ltd. *

    (17,230     (2,066,911

Tableau Software, Inc., Class A *

    (15,918     (1,042,470

Tiger Telematics, Inc. * ‡

    (6,510     0   

Uni-Pixel, Inc. *

    (19,665     (152,207

Universal Display Corp. *

    (67,713     (2,352,350

Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A *

    (164,001     (4,915,110

VeriFone Systems, Inc. *

    (91,565     (3,197,450

Workday, Inc., Class A *

    (51,530     (4,692,837

WorldGate Communications, Inc. * ‡

    (582,655     (117

Xybernaut Corp. * ‡

    (34,156     0   
   

 

 

 
      (112,207,130
   

 

 

 

Transportation—(2.1%)

   

American Railcar Industries, Inc.

    (174,566     (13,912,910

Student Transportation, Inc.

    (753,053     (4,872,253
   

 

 

 
      (18,785,163
   

 

 

 

Utilities—(0.6%)

   

SolarCity Corp. *

    (75,449     (5,181,837
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Proceeds $466,695,119)

      (532,618,566
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT —(60.0%)
(Proceeds $466,695,119)

      (532,618,566
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Contracts
       

OPTIONS WRITTEN †† —0.0%

   

Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc. Call Options Expires 01/17/15 Strike Price $70.50

    (343     (6,860

The Container Store Group, Inc. Call Options Expires 01/17/15 Strike Price $15.00

    (12     (8,040
   

 

 

 

TOTAL OPTIONS WRITTEN
(Premiums received $326,590)

      (14,900
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF
LIABILITIES—56.9%

      505,431,587   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 888,127,503   
   

 

 

 

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
PLC     Public Limited Company
*     Non-income producing.
(a)     All or a portion of the security is on loan. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
    Security position is either entirely or partially held in a segregated account as collateral for securities sold short.
††     Primary risk exposure is equity contracts.
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

34      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Security has been valued at fair market value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of The RBB Fund, Inc.‘s Board of Directors. As of August 31, 2014, short positions amounted to ($1,520), or 0.00% of net assets.
 

 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock

           

Basic Industries

   $ 97,990,846       $ 97,990,846       $       $   

Capital Goods

     75,512,891         72,961,228         2,551,663           

Communications

     46,196,102         46,196,102                   

Consumer Durables

     17,791,817         12,540,969         5,250,848           

Consumer Non-Durables

     37,263,331         37,263,331                   

Consumer Services

     136,585,718         134,446,677         2,139,041           

Energy

     106,200,038         106,200,038                   

Finance

     130,491,174         130,491,174                   

Health Care

     91,433,966         91,433,966                   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     9,221,916         9,221,916                   

Technology

     132,218,333         132,218,333                   

Transportation

     1,568,450         1,568,450                   

Options Purchased

           

Equity Contracts

     989,055         989,055                   

Securities Lending Collateral

     31,865,745         31,865,745                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 915,329,382       $ 905,387,830       $ 9,941,552       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Securities Sold Short

           

Basic Industries

   $ (3,426,906    $ (3,426,576    $ (330    $   

Capital Goods

     (50,663,523      (50,663,516              (7

Communications

     (41,827,798      (41,827,798                

Consumer Durables

     (33,436,378      (33,436,378                

Consumer Non-Durables

     (24,839,194      (24,838,212              (982

Consumer Services

     (85,724,299      (85,724,299                

Energy

     (5,974,090      (5,974,090                

Finance

     (8,563,402      (8,563,402                

Health Care

     (137,427,515      (137,427,515                

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     (4,561,331      (4,561,331                

Technology

     (112,207,130      (112,206,599              (531

Transportation

     (18,785,163      (18,785,163                

Utilities

     (5,181,837      (5,181,837                

Options Written

           

Equity Contracts

     (14,900      (14,900                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (532,633,466    $ (532,631,616    $ (330    $ (1,520
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        35   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

LONG POSITIONS—96.5%

   

COMMON STOCK—96.5%

   

Basic Industries—6.5%

   

Avery Dennison Corp.

    740,558      $ 35,643,057   

Barrick Gold Corp.

    1,248,825        22,965,892   

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. * †

    1,181,882        28,495,175   

Cloud Peak Energy, Inc. * †

    1,135,407        17,837,244   

Crown Holdings, Inc. * †

    398,739        19,247,132   

CVR Partners LP †

    725,287        11,111,397   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. * †

    3,223,026        41,222,503   

Huntsman Corp. †

    1,198,347        32,223,551   

International Paper Co. †

    385,755        18,689,830   

Lintec Corp.

    871,200        18,649,827   

LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A

    112,687        12,885,758   

Owens-Illinois, Inc. * †

    817,196        25,161,465   

Packaging Corp of America †

    478,674        32,545,045   

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC *

    878,098        19,929,288   

Stornoway Diamond Corp. *

    15,055,000        8,861,584   
   

 

 

 
      345,468,748   
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—10.0%

   

Boeing Co. (The) †

    173,263        21,969,748   

Carlisle Cos, Inc. †

    308,187        25,548,702   

Crane Co. †

    466,763        32,482,037   

Cubic Corp. †

    313,169        13,979,864   

Danaher Corp.

    473,915        36,306,628   

Dover Corp. †

    49,426        4,343,063   

Emerson Electric Co.

    170,674        10,926,549   

Entertainment One Ltd.

    2,870,300        16,892,246   

Flowserve Corp.

    188,056        14,271,570   

Fluor Corp. †

    315,364        23,302,246   

Global Brass & Copper Holdings, Inc. †

    981,188        15,159,355   

Honeywell International, Inc. †

    163,837        15,602,198   

Hubbell, Inc., Class B †

    162,476        19,643,348   

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. †

    240,327        24,539,790   

Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.

    82,949        24,062,698   

Kaba Holding AG

    34,748        17,091,575   

Lockheed Martin Corp. †

    213,033        37,067,742   

Masco Corp. †

    951,495        22,331,588   

Northrop Grumman Corp. †

    153,622        19,543,791   

Parker Hannifin Corp. †

    134,535        15,538,793   

Raytheon Co. †

    209,287        20,162,710   

Safran SA

    372,452        24,421,438   

Textron, Inc. †

    464,659        17,657,042   

Timken Co. †

    226,351        10,251,437   

Triumph Group, Inc. †

    310,225        21,520,308   

Tyco International Ltd. †

    299,850        13,379,307   

United Technologies Corp. †

    130,695        14,112,446   
   

 

 

 
      532,108,219   
   

 

 

 

Communications—3.1%

   

Baidu, Inc. — Sponsored ADR * †

    45,801        9,825,231   

Comcast Corp., Class A †

    578,349        31,653,041   

Google, Inc., Class A * †

    22,065        12,849,773   

Google, Inc., Class C * †

    8,656        4,947,770   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Communications—(continued)

  

Liberty Global PLC, Class A *

    122,555      $ 5,351,977   

Liberty Global PLC, Series C * †

    957,625        40,153,216   

NetEase, Inc. — ADR †

    158,413        13,946,681   

Tencent Holdings Ltd.

    19        309   

Time Warner Cable, Inc. †

    137,170        20,291,558   

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    347,117        17,293,369   

Yahoo!, Inc. * †

    311,462        11,994,402   
   

 

 

 
      168,307,327   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Durables—2.6%

   

Lear Corp. †

    392,259        39,669,153   

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. †

    908,864        30,465,121   

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

    15,022        18,290,659   

Tenneco, Inc. * †

    504,832        32,349,635   

TS Tech Co. Ltd.

    688,500        18,462,347   
   

 

 

 
      139,236,915   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—3.6%

   

Activision Blizzard, Inc. †

    975,818        22,970,756   

Aryzta AG

    286,879        26,209,491   

British American Tobacco PLC

    413,043        24,420,268   

Carlsberg A/S, Class B

    46,284        4,231,657   

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A * †

    285,279        24,844,948   

Electronic Arts, Inc. *

    379,664        14,366,486   

Lorillard, Inc. †

    354,805        21,181,859   

Stock Spirits Group PLC

    5,580,587        27,561,342   

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A †

    662,806        25,226,396   
   

 

 

 
      191,013,203   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—11.2%

   

Apollo Education Group, Inc. *

    500,734        13,905,383   

CBS Corp., Class B non-voting shares †

    305,255        18,098,569   

Cerved Information Solutions SpA *

    2,232,013        13,959,979   

Conversant, Inc. *

    299,356        8,244,264   

CVS Health Corp. †

    423,806        33,671,387   

eBay, Inc. * †

    200,556        11,130,858   

Equifax, Inc. †

    296,158        23,325,404   

Expedia, Inc. †

    184,068        15,811,441   

Foot Locker, Inc. †

    499,995        28,054,719   

FTI Consulting, Inc. * †

    272,205        10,098,806   

Home Depot, Inc. (The) †

    360,239        33,682,347   

ITV PLC

    7,271,508        25,493,917   

Liberty Media Corp., Class A * †

    133,070        6,551,036   

Liberty Media Corp., Class C * †

    266,140        12,899,806   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. * †

    1,114,924        24,483,731   

Macy’s, Inc. †

    446,108        27,788,067   

Manpowergroup, Inc. †

    350,696        27,206,996   

Moody’s Corp. †

    246,035        23,021,495   

News Corp., Class A * †

    1,561,694        27,524,857   

Omnicom Group, Inc. †

    343,226        24,715,704   

Outerwall, Inc. *

    208,048        12,260,269   

Phoenix New Media Ltd. — ADR *

    701,315        7,258,610   

Rite Aid Corp. *

    4,252,832        26,452,615   

Robert Half International, Inc. †

    489,935        24,599,636   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

36      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Services—(continued)

  

Six Flags Entertainment Corp. †

    409,922      $ 14,953,955   

Time Warner, Inc. †

    289,410        22,293,252   

Time, Inc. * †

    73,486        1,725,451   

Towers Watson & Co., Class A †

    139,621        15,306,650   

Viacom, Inc., Class B †

    313,798        25,464,708   

Walt Disney Co., (The) †

    229,770        20,651,728   

WPP PLC

    960,655        20,160,115   
   

 

 

 
      600,795,755   
   

 

 

 

Energy—11.2%

   

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

    468,306        20,394,726   

Diamondback Energy, Inc. * †

    550,131        47,503,812   

Energen Corp. †

    399,783        32,174,536   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    388,274        42,663,547   

EQT Corp. †

    344,174        34,093,876   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    779,255        77,504,702   

Halliburton Co.

    100,692        6,807,786   

Inpex Corp.

    861,700        12,354,345   

Kosmos Energy Ltd. * †

    1,263,634        12,661,613   

Marathon Petroleum Corp. †

    259,630        23,628,926   

Occidental Petroleum Corp. †

    459,397        47,653,251   

Pacific Drilling SA *

    1,911,901        18,755,749   

Parsley Energy, Inc., Class A *

    1,086,094        23,807,180   

Phillips 66 †

    379,733        33,044,366   

QEP Resources, Inc. †

    967,871        34,427,171   

Rice Energy, Inc. * †

    1,316,480        38,546,534   

Schlumberger Ltd. †

    331,375        36,331,955   

Valero Energy Corp.

    436,969        23,657,502   

Viper Energy Partners LP

    142,309        4,542,503   

Western Refining, Inc. †

    564,734        26,277,073   
   

 

 

 
      596,831,153   
   

 

 

 

Finance—17.9%

   

ACE Ltd. †

    301,026        32,008,095   

Alleghany Corp. *

    61,207        26,388,174   

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    96,784        16,528,235   

Allstate Corp., (The) †

    549,341        33,778,978   

Bank of America Corp. †

    2,296,592        36,952,165   

BB&T Corp. †

    875,758        32,692,046   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B * †

    245,929        33,753,755   

Capital One Financial Corp. †

    541,429        44,429,664   

Charles Schwab Corp., (The) †

    594,959        16,962,281   

Citigroup, Inc. †

    824,379        42,579,175   

Comerica, Inc. †

    191,240        9,627,022   

Discover Financial Services †

    586,654        36,589,610   

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. †

    417,775        24,260,194   

Fifth Third Bancorp †

    1,803,728        36,805,070   

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. †

    843,684        7,340,051   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., (The) †

    181,227        32,459,568   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc. †

    2,775,695        27,326,717   

Investors Bancorp, Inc.

    811,259        8,607,458   

JPMorgan Chase & Co. †

    736,286        43,772,203   

MetLife, Inc. †

    320,751        17,557,910   

Morgan Stanley †

    379,128        13,007,882   

Navient Corp.

    967,473        17,356,466   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Finance—(continued)

   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., (The) †

    323,555      $ 27,421,286   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    196,139        17,593,668   

Raymond James Financial, Inc. †

    282,543        15,438,150   

Regions Financial Corp. †

    3,199,736        32,477,320   

Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. †

    184,008        15,268,984   

SLM Corp.

    1,254,321        11,113,284   

Standard Chartered PLC

    447,697        9,023,891   

State Street Corp. †

    530,727        38,228,266   

SunTrust Banks, Inc. †

    298,769        11,377,124   

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. †

    528,283        17,491,450   

Torchmark Corp. †

    266,448        14,534,738   

Travelers Cos., Inc., (The) †

    326,134        30,888,151   

Validus Holdings Ltd. †

    720,029        28,160,334   

Wells Fargo & Co. †

    828,756        42,631,209   

WR Berkley Corp. †

    614,656        29,718,618   

XL Group PLC †

    783,647        26,785,054   
   

 

 

 
      958,934,246   
   

 

 

 

Health Care—13.0%

   

AbbVie, Inc. †

    510,128        28,199,876   

Amgen, Inc. †

    292,203        40,727,254   

Boston Scientific Corp. * †

    1,004,836        12,741,320   

Cardinal Health, Inc. †

    412,414        30,394,912   

Celgene Corp. *

    154,878        14,716,508   

Covidien PLC †

    247,651        21,503,536   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. * †

    316,449        23,632,411   

Express Scripts Holding Co. * †

    465,730        34,431,419   

ICON PLC *

    624,304        30,928,020   

Johnson & Johnson †

    465,468        48,282,996   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings * †

    276,208        29,617,784   

McKesson Corp. †

    162,407        31,674,237   

Medtronic, Inc. †

    674,593        43,072,763   

Novartis AG — ADR

    339,957        30,541,737   

Omnicare, Inc. †

    457,376        29,166,868   

Pfizer, Inc. †

    1,597,671        46,955,551   

Quest Diagnostics, Inc. †

    416,654        26,336,699   

Sanofi — ADR

    428,275        23,426,643   

Select Medical Holdings Corp. †

    1,043,688        14,632,506   

Shire PLC — ADR

    42,713        10,436,922   

Stryker Corp.

    192,730        16,056,336   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — Sponsored ADR

    948,923        49,837,436   

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B †

    291,725        33,385,009   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    252,123        25,038,335   
   

 

 

 
      695,737,078   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.2%

  

American Capital Agency Corp. REIT †

    648,051        15,326,406   

American Homes 4 Rent, Class A

    519,267        9,284,494   

American Residential Properties, Inc. * †

    410,150        7,784,647   

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. †

    706,041        8,401,888   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        37   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(continued)

  

Boston Properties, Inc. †

    62,353      $ 7,570,901   

Equity Residential †

    111,051        7,381,560   

Post Properties, Inc. †

    186,023        10,234,985   
   

 

 

 
      65,984,881   
   

 

 

 

Technology—15.9%

   

Alliance Data Systems Corp. * †

    23,387        6,189,136   

Amdocs Ltd. †

    433,442        20,415,118   

Apple, Inc. †

    398,067        40,801,868   

Arrow Electronics, Inc. * †

    624,957        38,903,573   

Avago Technologies Ltd. †

    383,956        31,518,948   

Avnet, Inc. †

    722,840        32,173,608   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

    4,177,202        44,069,481   

CA, Inc.

    395,070        11,156,777   

CDW Corp. †

    772,000        25,506,880   

Cisco Systems, Inc. †

    846,771        21,160,807   

EMC Corp. †

    1,460,615        43,131,961   

Evertec, Inc.

    347,100        7,993,713   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. †

    350,003        19,862,670   

Flextronics International Ltd. * †

    3,345,693        36,936,451   

Global Payments, Inc.

    234,453        17,049,422   

Harris Corp. †

    214,181        15,290,382   

Jabil Circuit, Inc. †

    1,670,324        36,045,592   

MediaTek, Inc.

    2,512,000        41,982,507   

Microsoft Corp. †

    976,564        44,365,303   

Motorola Solutions, Inc. †

    402,213        23,891,452   

NetApp, Inc. †

    713,893        30,097,729   

ON Semiconductor Corp. *

    3,125,521        30,505,085   

Oracle Corp. †

    982,693        40,811,240   

QUALCOMM, Inc. †

    213,035        16,211,964   

Seagate Technology PLC †

    584,432        36,573,755   

TE Connectivity Ltd. †

    295,078        18,495,489   

Texas Instruments, Inc. †

    614,090        29,586,856   

Total System Services, Inc. †

    623,548        19,616,820   

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. *

    1,059,038        21,885,020   

Western Digital Corp. †

    441,610        45,490,246   
   

 

 

 
      847,719,853   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.3%

   

Norfolk Southern Corp. †

    168,563        18,036,241   
   

 

 

 
      18,036,241   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK—96.5%
(Cost $4,494,161,324)

   

    5,160,173,619   
   

 

 

 

WARRANTS—0.0%

   

Basic Industries—0.0%

   

Stornoway Diamond Corp. * Exercise Price CAD 0.90, Expires 07/08/16

    7,527,500        796,158   
   

 

 

 
      796,158   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL WARRANTS—0.0%
(Cost $773,078)

   

    796,158   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—96.5%
(Cost $4,494,934,402)

      5,160,969,777   
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT—(46.6%)

  

COMMON STOCK—(46.6%)

   

Basic Industries—(3.7%)

   

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

    (138,759   $ (18,484,086

Aptargroup, Inc.

    (245,280     (15,734,712

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

    (467,121     (18,815,634

EI Du Pont de Nemours & Co.

    (191,178     (12,638,778

FMC Corp.

    (118,887     (7,863,186

FP Corp.

    (222,200     (7,140,755

Huhtamaki OYJ

    (414,694     (11,130,998

Intrepid Potash, Inc. *

    (1,048,148     (16,068,109

K+S AG, Registered Shares

    (498,118     (15,498,764

NewMarket Corp.

    (41,953     (17,070,256

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The), Class A

    (263,838     (15,231,368

Sigma-Aldrich Corp.

    (92,573     (9,627,592

Teck Resources Ltd., Class B

    (263,068     (5,973,649

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd.

    (569,600     (7,796,013

Viscofan SA

    (217,240     (12,116,763

Wausau Paper Corp.

    (775,316     (7,070,882
   

 

 

 
      (198,261,545
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—(3.4%)

   

Fastenal Co.

    (402,932     (18,244,761

James Hardie Industries PLC

    (732,268     (8,776,320

Kennametal, Inc.

    (95,214     (4,266,539

Now, Inc. *

    (447,020     (14,765,071

Outotec OYJ

    (1,171,626     (10,568,434

Polypore International, Inc. *

    (146,484     (6,566,878

Proto Labs, Inc. *

    (292,657     (22,019,513

Raven Industries, Inc.

    (402,878     (10,740,727

SGL Carbon SE *

    (417,659     (12,239,055

Sun Hydraulics Corp.

    (211,511     (8,466,785

Trex Co., Inc. *

    (345,259     (12,981,738

Trinity Industries, Inc.

    (214,191     (10,362,561

Vulcan Materials Co.

    (188,558     (11,950,806

WW Grainger, Inc.

    (78,186     (19,249,393

Zardoya Otis SA

    (847,333     (12,294,915
   

 

 

 
      (183,493,496
   

 

 

 

Communications—(3.5%)

   

America Movil SAB de CV, Series L — ADR

    (384,082     (9,413,850

Belgacom SA

    (283,423     (10,103,390

CenturyLink, Inc.

    (258,152     (10,581,650

Cogent Communications Group, Inc.

    (322,080     (11,163,293

Equinix, Inc. *

    (84,298     (18,398,881

Eutelsat Communications SA

    (378,044     (12,612,073

Frontier Communications Corp

    (1,312,288     (8,923,558

Internap Network Services Corp. *

    (928,039     (6,347,787

Level 3 Communications, Inc. *

    (229,074     (10,299,167

Millicom International Cellular SA — SDR

    (163,378     (14,655,697

Orange SA

    (753,567     (11,406,804

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. *

    (317,843     (10,997,368

Shutterstock, Inc. *

    (76,383     (5,407,916
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

38      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Communications—(continued)

  

Sprint Corp. *

    (1,492,951   $ (8,375,455

Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. *

    (393,182     (17,366,849

Telefonica SA — Sponsored ADR

    (794,430     (12,591,716

Twitter, Inc. *

    (190,069     (9,455,933
   

 

 

 
      (188,101,387
   

 

 

 

Consumer Durables—(0.9%)

   

Autoliv, Inc.

    (158,978     (16,484,429

Dorman Products, Inc. *

    (142,867     (6,404,728

Electrolux AB — Series B

    (536,396     (13,637,953

Seb SA

    (142,379     (11,208,240
   

 

 

 
      (47,735,350
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—(5.6%)

  

 

Annie’s, Inc. *

    (83,194     (2,653,057

Beiersdorf AG

    (170,030     (14,989,717

C&C Group PLC

    (2,560,146     (14,532,140

Campbell Soup Co.

    (365,695     (16,390,450

Clorox Co., (The)

    (192,579     (17,062,499

Deckers Outdoor Corp. *

    (198,502     (18,309,824

Flowers Foods, Inc.

    (792,126     (15,509,827

Guess?, Inc.

    (522,781     (12,253,987

Hain Celestial Group, Inc., (The) *

    (179,957     (17,700,571

Kering

    (92,528     (19,615,938

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

    (143,439     (19,123,287

Mattel, Inc.

    (433,804     (14,961,900

McCormick & Co., Inc. non-voting shares

    (237,291     (16,536,810

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

    (469,958     (17,007,780

Post Holdings, Inc. *

    (312,949     (11,569,725

PVH Corp.

    (120,128     (14,023,743

Remy Cointreau SA

    (130,311     (10,357,281

Snyders-Lance, Inc.

    (449,291     (12,247,673

Tumi Holdings, Inc. *

    (769,485     (17,298,023

Under Armour, Inc., Class A *

    (232,576     (15,898,895
   

 

 

 
      (298,043,127
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—(6.9%)

   

Acxiom Corp. *

    (559,365     (10,373,424

AutoNation, Inc. *

    (288,680     (15,660,890

B&M European Value Retail SA *

    (3,320,709     (15,325,671

Bob Evans Farms, Inc.

    (429,796     (18,661,742

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. *

    (126,525     (18,694,069

Cabela’s, Inc. *

    (268,991     (16,413,831

CarMax, Inc. *

    (313,048     (16,403,715

Cheesecake Factory, Inc., (The)

    (491,676     (22,100,836

Concur Technologies, Inc. *

    (155,425     (15,601,562

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., Class A *

    (604,647     (13,202,467

Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B

    (525,515     (22,399,379

IHS, Inc., Class A *

    (89,717     (12,781,981

Iron Mountain, Inc.

    (450,628     (16,213,595

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. *

    (1,254,938     (21,346,495

L Brands, Inc.

    (286,153     (18,270,869
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Services—(continued)

  

Lululemon Athletica, Inc. *

    (312,861   $ (12,492,540

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.

    (432,135     (22,362,986

Netflix, Inc. *

    (26,297     (12,560,499

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc. *

    (129,618     (10,871,062

Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.

    (615,325     (14,613,969

Ultimate Software Group, Inc., (The) *

    (106,990     (15,726,460

United Natural Foods, Inc. *

    (257,558     (16,558,404

Wendy’s Co., (The)

    (1,626,714     (13,257,719
   

 

 

 
      (371,894,165
   

 

 

 

Energy—(4.8%)

   

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. *

    (247,945     (12,250,962

BG Group PLC

    (552,856     (11,020,311

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

    (291,566     (9,779,124

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. *

    (178,105     (11,170,746

Concho Resources, Inc. *

    (137,389     (19,514,734

ConocoPhillips

    (258,819     (21,021,279

Continental Resources, Inc. *

    (162,024     (26,132,851

EQT Midstream Partners LP

    (174,213     (16,984,025

Fugro NV

    (84,727     (3,072,586

Goodrich Petroleum Corp. *

    (417,798     (9,233,336

Halcon Resources Corp. *

    (1,885,710     (10,371,405

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

    (111,931     (11,758,352

HollyFrontier Corp.

    (464,917     (23,259,798

Matador Resources Co. *

    (771,957     (21,120,744

Oasis Petroleum, Inc. *

    (276,819     (13,616,727

Rex Energy Corp. *

    (497,208     (7,597,338

ShawCor Ltd.

    (222,358     (12,051,464

Ultra Petroleum Corp. *

    (321,996     (8,542,554

Weatherford International PLC *

    (420,350     (9,958,092
   

 

 

 
      (258,456,428
   

 

 

 

Finance—(5.8%)

   

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC

    (1,449,516     (10,482,210

Astoria Financial Corp.

    (1,097,322     (14,341,999

BancorpSouth, Inc.

    (497,087     (10,523,332

Bank of Hawaii Corp.

    (203,429     (11,809,053

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

    (134,477     (10,222,453

Community Bank System, Inc.

    (450,407     (15,917,383

CVB Financial Corp.

    (722,498     (11,227,619

Eaton Vance Corp.

    (326,602     (12,789,734

Financial Engines, Inc.

    (251,939     (9,037,052

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

    (636,342     (18,702,091

Greenhill & Co., Inc.

    (251,024     (12,305,196

HDFC Bank Ltd. — ADR

    (228,087     (11,333,643

Janus Capital Group, Inc.

    (789,072     (9,587,225

Mobile Mini, Inc.

    (262,264     (10,272,881

New York Community Bancorp, Inc.

    (999,742     (15,945,885

Northern Trust Corp.

    (183,284     (12,710,745

Siam Commercial Bank PCL, (The) — NVDR

    (2,035,500     (11,918,547

Trustmark Corp.

    (629,817     (14,948,707

UMB Financial Corp.

    (200,744     (11,592,966
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        39   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Finance—(continued)

   

United Bankshares, Inc.

    (602,086   $ (19,838,734

United States Oil Fund LP *

    (216,584     (7,745,044

Valley National Bancorp

    (1,270,109     (12,701,090

Westamerica Bancorporation

    (430,316     (20,814,385

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. *

    (984,255     (11,643,737
   

 

 

 
      (308,411,711
   

 

 

 

Health Care—(2.3%)

   

athenahealth, Inc. *

    (129,541     (18,710,902

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

    (564,543     (17,244,757

Elekta AB, B Shares

    (1,520,521     (17,381,830

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

    (298,500     (11,852,904

Insulet Corp. *

    (218,742     (7,898,774

ResMed, Inc.

    (393,751     (20,888,491

Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. *

    (132,023     (10,761,195

William Demant Holding *

    (226,678     (17,513,973
   

 

 

 
      (122,252,826
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(2.5%)

  

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.

    (628,821     (20,939,739

HCP, Inc.

    (515,733     (22,346,711

Health Care REIT, Inc.

    (329,062     (22,238,010

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    (577,114     (21,739,884

Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.

    (255,578     (10,384,134

Realty Income Corp.

    (464,083     (20,753,792

Rouse Properties, Inc.

    (841,436     (14,708,301
   

 

 

 
      (133,110,571
   

 

 

 

Technology—(5.6%)

   

3D Systems Corp. *

    (266,071     (14,237,459

Aspen Technology, Inc. *

    (213,067     (8,754,923

AZZ, Inc.

    (191,100     (8,855,574

Blackbaud, Inc.

    (640,844     (24,922,423

Ciena Corp. *

    (462,737     (9,574,029

Cirrus Logic, Inc. *

    (250,933     (6,067,560

Dassault Systemes SA

    (294,994     (19,550,432

Infinera Corp. *

    (1,303,688     (13,793,019

Infosys Technologies Ltd. — Sponsored ADR

    (302,330     (17,988,635

International Rectifier Corp. *

    (597,717     (23,550,050

Itron, Inc. *

    (460,888     (19,458,691

National Instruments Corp.

    (642,242     (21,290,322

NetSuite, Inc. *

    (160,656     (14,079,892

Red Hat, Inc. *

    (246,367     (15,008,678

Salesforce.com, Inc. *

    (355,567     (21,010,454

Trimble Navigation Ltd. *

    (331,513     (11,026,122

Tyler Technologies, Inc. *

    (133,690     (11,906,431

ViaSat, Inc. *

    (173,812     (9,896,855

VMware, Inc., Class A *

    (38,812     (3,826,087

VTech Holdings Ltd.

    (724,200     (8,877,233

Wipro Ltd. — ADR

    (1,375,808     (16,454,664
   

 

 

 
      (300,129,533
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Transportation—(1.1%)

   

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

    (206,995   $ (15,638,472

Kansas City Southern

    (89,396     (10,312,723

Keikyu Corp.

    (847,220     (7,457,931

Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG, Registered Shares

    (86,789     (12,335,399

Ryder System, Inc.

    (133,324     (12,044,490
   

 

 

 
      (57,789,015
   

 

 

 

Utilities—(0.5%)

   

NiSource, Inc.

    (498,455     (19,773,710

Ormat Technologies, Inc.

    (249,830     (6,877,820
   

 

 

 
      (26,651,530
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Proceeds $2,374,452,957)

   

    (2,494,330,684
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT—(46.6%)
(Proceeds $2,374,452,957)

   

    (2,494,330,684
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Contracts
       

OPTIONS WRITTEN ††—(0.1%)

  

 

Exxon Mobil Corp.
Call Options
Expires 10/18/14
Strike Price $100.00

    (1,500     (243,000

Exxon Mobil Corp.
Call Options
Expires 10/18/14
Strike Price $97.50

    (1,582     (446,124

Occidental Petroleum Corp.
Call Options
Expires 11/22/14
Strike Price $95.00

    (2,296     (2,066,400
   

 

 

 

TOTAL OPTIONS WRITTEN
(Premiums received $3,161,737)

   

    (2,755,524
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES—50.2%

      2,684,753,227   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 5,348,636,796   
   

 

 

 

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
LP     Limited Partnership
NVDR     Non-Voting Depository Receipt
PCL     Public Company Limited
PLC     Public Limited Company
REIT     Real Estate Investment Trust
SDR     Swedish Depositary Receipt
*     Non-income producing.
    Security position is either entirely or partially held in a segregated account as collateral for securities sold short.
††     Primary risk exposure is equity contracts.
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

40      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS LONG/SHORT RESEARCH FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock

           

Basic Industries

   $ 345,468,748       $ 306,889,633       $ 38,579,115       $   

Capital Goods

     532,108,219         466,532,508         65,575,711           

Communications

     168,307,327         168,307,018         309           

Consumer Durables

     139,236,915         102,483,909         36,753,006           

Consumer Non-Durables

     191,013,203         108,590,445         82,422,758           

Consumer Services

     600,795,755         555,141,723         45,654,032           

Energy

     596,831,153         584,476,808         12,354,345           

Finance

     958,934,246         933,382,120         25,552,126           

Health Care

     695,737,078         695,737,078                   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     65,984,881         65,984,881                   

Technology

     847,719,853         805,737,346         41,982,507           

Transportation

     18,036,241         18,036,241                   

Warrants

     796,158         796,158                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 5,160,969,777       $ 4,812,095,868       $ 348,873,909       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Securities Sold Short

           

Basic Industries

   $ (198,261,545    $ (144,578,252    $ (53,683,293    $   

Capital Goods

     (183,493,496      (150,183,206      (33,310,290        

Communications

     (188,101,387      (139,323,423      (48,777,964        

Consumer Durables

     (47,735,350      (22,889,157      (24,846,193        

Consumer Non-Durables

     (298,043,127      (263,437,472      (34,605,655        

Consumer Services

     (371,894,165      (349,494,786      (22,399,379        

Energy

     (258,456,428      (244,363,531      (14,092,897        

Finance

     (308,411,711      (275,788,501      (32,623,210        

Health Care

     (122,252,826      (75,773,335      (46,479,491        

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     (133,110,571      (133,110,571                

Technology

     (300,129,533      (280,579,101      (19,550,432        

Transportation

     (57,789,015      (37,995,685      (19,793,330        

Utilities

     (26,651,530      (26,651,530                

Options Written

           

Equity Contracts

     (2,755,524      (2,755,524                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (2,497,086,208    $ (2,146,924,074    $ (350,162,134    $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        41   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

RIGHTS—0.0%

   

CVR Banctec, Inc. Escrow Shares

    14,327      $ 0   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL RIGHTS
(Cost $0)

   

    0   
   

 

 

 

COMMON STOCK—97.5%

   

Basic Industries—1.3%

   

Avery Dennison Corp.

    57,450        2,765,068   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. *

    289,505        3,702,769   

Huntsman Corp.

    108,485        2,917,162   

International Paper Co.

    53,085        2,571,968   
   

 

 

 
      11,956,967   
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—5.7%

  

Cubic Corp.

    32,765        1,462,630   

Dover Corp.

    87,090        7,652,598   

Emerson Electric Co.

    69,130        4,425,703   

Fluor Corp.

    30,923        2,284,900   

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

    44,780        4,572,486   

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    31,280        2,759,209   

Masco Corp.

    179,645        4,216,268   

MRC Global, Inc. *

    134,945        3,349,335   

Parker Hannifin Corp.

    68,937        7,962,224   

Raytheon Co.

    54,415        5,242,341   

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

    32,300        2,955,450   

Textron, Inc.

    68,945        2,619,910   

Timken Co.

    100,825        4,566,364   
   

 

 

 
      54,069,418   
   

 

 

 

Communications—2.3%

  

DIRECTV *

    130,785        11,306,363   

NetEase, Inc. — ADR

    68,470        6,028,099   

Yahoo!, Inc. * #

    127,430        4,907,329   
   

 

 

 
      22,241,791   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Durables—2.9%

  

Brunswick Corp.

    171,765        7,385,895   

Lear Corp.

    75,448        7,630,056   

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

    153,465        5,144,147   

Thor Industries, Inc.

    85,130        4,572,332   

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. *

    32,430        3,122,685   
   

 

 

 
      27,855,115   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—4.4%

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

    517,150        12,173,711   

Electronic Arts, Inc. *

    294,443        11,141,723   

Lorillard, Inc.

    180,580        10,780,626   

PepsiCo, Inc.

    85,860        7,941,191   
   

 

 

 
      42,037,251   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—8.7%

   

AutoZone, Inc. *

    4,865        2,621,457   

Conversant, Inc. * (a)

    188,720        5,197,349   

CVS Health Corp.

    68,055        5,406,970   

eBay, Inc. *

    180,375        10,010,813   

Equifax, Inc.

    37,345        2,941,292   

Foot Locker, Inc.

    103,345        5,798,688   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    56,400        5,273,400   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Consumer Services—(continued)

  

Kohl’s Corp.

    186,586      $ 10,969,391   

Korn/Ferry International *

    87,511        2,647,208   

Macy’s, Inc.

    135,345        8,430,640   

Manpowergroup, Inc.

    73,030        5,665,667   

Omnicom Group, Inc.

    112,810        8,123,448   

Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc. * (a)

    241,375        1,450,664   

Viacom, Inc., Class B

    68,895        5,590,829   

Walt Disney Co., (The)

    31,180        2,802,458   
   

 

 

 
      82,930,274   
   

 

 

 

Energy—10.3%

  

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

    72,810        3,170,875   

Energen Corp.

    112,020        9,015,370   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    69,970        7,688,304   

EQT Corp.

    43,770        4,335,856   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    184,140        18,314,564   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    27,865        2,535,994   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    195,520        20,281,290   

Parsley Energy, Inc., Class A *

    80,875        1,772,780   

Phillips 66

    149,295        12,991,651   

QEP Resources, Inc.

    142,915        5,083,487   

Rice Energy, Inc. *

    141,080        4,130,822   

Valero Energy Corp.

    101,230        5,480,592   

Western Refining, Inc.

    70,580        3,284,087   
   

 

 

 
      98,085,672   
   

 

 

 

Finance—26.6%

  

ACE Ltd.

    82,660        8,789,238   

Alleghany Corp. *

    16,002        6,898,942   

Allstate Corp., (The)

    80,370        4,941,951   

American International Group, Inc.

    178,590        10,011,755   

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

    62,370        3,007,481   

BB&T Corp.

    311,810        11,639,867   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    246,110        20,195,787   

Citigroup, Inc. #

    385,312        19,901,365   

FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class A 144A * ‡

    50,936        933,657   

FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class B 144A * ‡

    12,734        233,414   

Federated Investors, Inc., Class B

    128,640        3,947,962   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    327,210        6,676,720   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., (The)

    51,700        9,259,987   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

    643,820        6,338,408   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    496,650        29,525,843   

Loews Corp.

    210,234        9,195,635   

MetLife, Inc.

    209,500        11,468,030   

National Bank Holdings Corp., Class A

    176,075        3,577,844   

Navient Corp.

    246,020        4,413,599   

OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd.

    190,235        3,049,467   

Peoples Choice Financial Corp. 144A * ‡

    1,465        0   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    137,770        12,357,969   

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    89,970        4,915,961   

SLM Corp.

    246,015        2,179,693   

Solar Cayman Ltd. 144A * ‡

    19,375        0   

State Street Corp.

    116,995        8,427,150   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

42      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Finance—(continued)

  

Torchmark Corp.

    141,667      $ 7,727,935   

Travelers Cos., Inc., (The)

    98,735        9,351,192   

Validus Holdings Ltd.

    166,704        6,519,793   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    291,170        14,977,785   

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.

    9,260        5,873,062   

WR Berkley Corp.

    161,335        7,800,547   
   

 

 

 
      254,138,039   
   

 

 

 

Health Care—17.0%

  

AbbVie, Inc.

    94,245        5,209,864   

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. *

    182,790        2,700,722   

Amgen, Inc.

    208,320        29,035,642   

Boston Scientific Corp. *

    216,435        2,744,396   

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    89,290        6,580,673   

Covidien PLC

    103,815        9,014,256   

Express Scripts Holding Co. *

    117,345        8,675,316   

Johnson & Johnson

    175,800        18,235,734   

McKesson Corp.

    24,185        4,716,801   

Medtronic, Inc.

    142,620        9,106,287   

Novartis AG — ADR

    159,720        14,349,245   

Pfizer, Inc.

    479,976        14,106,495   

Sanofi — ADR

    293,680        16,064,296   

Shire PLC — ADR

    18,475        4,514,366   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. — Sponsored ADR

    142,655        7,492,241   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    55,055        4,772,167   

WellPoint, Inc.

    41,070        4,785,066   
   

 

 

 
      162,103,567   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.1%

  

Terreno Realty Corp.

    33,810        684,314   

TMST, Inc. ‡

    191,097        0   
   

 

 

 
      684,314   
   

 

 

 

Technology—18.2%

  

Amdocs Ltd.

    96,515        4,545,856   

Arrow Electronics, Inc. *

    124,577        7,754,918   

Avnet, Inc.

    153,922        6,851,068   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

    443,425        4,678,134   

CA, Inc.

    261,425        7,382,642   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    597,155        14,922,903   

Computer Sciences Corp.

    74,190        4,435,820   

EMC Corp.

    707,505        20,892,623   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    127,245        7,221,154   

Flextronics International Ltd. *

    1,560,816        17,231,409   

Global Payments, Inc.

    47,595        3,461,108   

Jabil Circuit, Inc.

    238,580        5,148,556   

Microsemi Corp. *

    187,415        4,992,736   

Microsoft Corp.

    242,925        11,036,083   

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    68,800        4,086,720   

ON Semiconductor Corp. *

    834,600        8,145,696   

Oracle Corp.

    159,985        6,644,177   

Seagate Technology PLC

    49,220        3,080,188   

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    227,515        14,260,640   

Total System Services, Inc.

    169,800        5,341,908   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Technology—(continued)

  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

    353,235      $ 5,651,760   

Western Digital Corp.

    58,420        6,017,844   
   

 

 

 
      173,783,943   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $717,238,353)

      929,886,351   
   

 

 

 

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL—0.5%

  

BlackRock Liquidity TempFund, Institutional Shares

    5,021,034        5,021,034   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL
(Cost $5,021,034)

      5,021,034   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—98.0%
(Cost $722,259,387)

      934,907,385   
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Contracts
       

OPTIONS WRITTEN ††—(0.1%)

   

Citigroup Inc. Call Options
Expires 01/17/2015
Strike Price $60

    (849     (25,470

Yahoo!, Inc. Call Options
Expires 01/17/2015
Strike Price $34

    (1,274     (770,770
   

 

 

 

TOTAL OPTIONS WRITTEN (Premiums received $743,607)

      (796,240
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES—2.1%

      19,953,837   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 954,064,982   
   

 

 

 

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
PLC     Public Limited Company
144A     Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers. As of August 31, 2014, these securities amounted to $1,167,071 or 0.1% of net assets. These 144A securities have been deemed illiquid (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
*     Non-income producing.
    Security has been valued at fair market value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of The RBB Fund, Inc.‘s Board of Directors. As of August 31, 2014, these securities amounted to $1,167,071 or 0.1% of net assets.
#     Security segregated as collateral for options written.
(a)     All or a portion of the security is on loan (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
††     Primary risk exposure is equity contracts.
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        43   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS ALL-CAP VALUE FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock

           

Basic Industries

   $ 11,956,967       $ 11,956,967       $       $   

Capital Goods

     54,069,418         54,069,418                   

Communications

     22,241,791         22,241,791                   

Consumer Durables

     27,855,115         27,855,115                   

Consumer Non-Durables

     42,037,251         42,037,251                   

Consumer Services

     82,930,274         82,930,274                   

Energy

     98,085,672         98,085,672                   

Finance

     254,138,039         252,970,968         1,167,071           

Health Care

     162,103,567         162,103,567                   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     684,314         684,314                   

Technology

     173,783,943         173,783,943                   

Rights

                               

Securities Lending Collateral

     5,021,034         5,021,034                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 934,907,385       $ 933,740,314       $ 1,167,071       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Options Written

           

Equity Contracts

   $ (796,240    $ (796,240    $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (796,240    $ (796,240    $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

44      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO WPG SMALL/MICRO CAP VALUE FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

COMMON STOCK—95.8%

   

Basic Industries—1.8%

   

Cloud Peak Energy, Inc. *

    21,000      $ 329,910   

GrafTech International Ltd. *

    31,800        277,614   

Novagold Resources, Inc. *

    53,600        211,720   
   

 

 

 
    819,244   
   

 

 

 

Capital Goods—9.0%

  

Aegion Corp. *

    12,500        308,250   

FreightCar America, Inc.

    18,500        551,115   

Global Power Equipment Group, Inc.

    36,100        608,285   

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. *

    102,500        781,050   

Landec Corp. *

    40,300        529,139   

LSB Industries, Inc. *

    4,000        160,200   

MRC Global, Inc. *

    15,500        384,710   

MYR Group, Inc. *

    16,800        392,784   

Orion Marine Group, Inc. *

    21,700        219,387   

Tutor Perini Corp. *

    7,600        227,088   
   

 

 

 
    4,162,008   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Durables—2.8%

  

ACCO Brands Corp. *

    24,800        191,704   

Libbey, Inc. *

    30,400        839,040   

TRI Pointe Homes, Inc. *

    17,300        256,040   
   

 

 

 
    1,286,784   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Non-Durables—2.7%

  

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. *

    22,200        308,580   

Crocs, Inc. *

    15,500        239,475   

Matthews International Corp., Class A

    11,100        512,265   

Universal Corp. (a)

    3,400        179,384   
   

 

 

 
    1,239,704   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Services—10.2%

  

ARC Document Solutions, Inc. *

    4,500        36,540   

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. *

    20,400        354,756   

Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. *

    8,600        124,184   

Destination XL Group, Inc. *

    21,900        109,500   

FTI Consulting, Inc. *

    17,800        660,380   

GNC Holdings, Inc., Class A

    7,200        273,240   

ICF International, Inc. *

    6,400        216,192   

K12, Inc. *

    25,200        474,516   

KAR Auction Services, Inc.

    10,000        301,600   

MDC Partners, Inc., Class A

    30,900        676,710   

Office Depot, Inc. *

    44,600        228,352   

PRGX Global, Inc. *

    57,600        358,272   

Shoe Carnival, Inc.

    5,900        127,027   

Titan Machinery, Inc. * (a)

    22,100        272,051   

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. *

    12,200        478,118   
   

 

 

 
    4,691,438   
   

 

 

 

Energy—11.5%

  

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc.

    24,900        251,490   

Approach Resources, Inc. * (a)

    75,400        1,348,152   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Energy—(continued)

  

Bill Barrett Corp. *

    21,300      $ 485,001   

Delek US Holdings, Inc.

    3,300        115,434   

McDermott International, Inc. * (a)

    78,900        568,080   

North Atlantic Drilling Ltd.

    29,400        322,224   

Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. (a)

    74,000        999,000   

Rentech, Inc. *

    63,400        142,016   

Resolute Energy Corp. *

    51,500        413,545   

TETRA Technologies, Inc. *

    40,600        479,080   

W&T Offshore, Inc.

    10,000        149,200   
   

 

 

 
    5,273,222   
   

 

 

 

Finance—20.6%

  

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.

    11,400        282,036   

Central Pacific Financial Corp.

    35,600        625,848   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

    40,300        719,355   

Customers Bancorp Inc *

    19,500        362,310   

Employers Holdings, Inc.

    27,800        595,198   

FBR & Co. *

    17,995        514,297   

Fidelity & Guaranty Life

    25,500        575,280   

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

    11,300        190,405   

FXCM, Inc., Class A

    13,200        191,268   

Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., (The)

    4,300        272,835   

Investors Bancorp, Inc.

    16,900        179,309   

Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.

    22,100        577,252   

Maiden Holdings Ltd.

    53,200        646,912   

Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc.

    65,700        406,683   

Nelnet, Inc., Class A

    7,300        320,981   

Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

    35,932        471,068   

Ocwen Financial Corp. *

    14,800        413,512   

Popular Inc *

    22,600        699,696   

THL Credit, Inc.

    13,900        197,936   

United Community Banks, Inc.

    27,200        461,312   

ViewPoint Financial Group

    10,500        273,525   

Walter Investment Management Corp. * (a)

    6,900        181,815   

WSFS Financial Corp.

    4,300        320,780   
   

 

 

 
    9,479,613   
   

 

 

 

Health Care—4.2%

  

Accuray, Inc. * (a)

    102,500        834,350   

Alere, Inc. *

    6,300        223,335   

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. *

    49,200        392,616   

Natus Medical, Inc. *

    10,100        283,911   

Symmetry Medical, Inc. *

    23,200        213,904   
   

 

 

 
    1,948,116   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—12.5%

  

American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp.

    11,200        230,496   

Campus Crest Communities, Inc.

    19,200        157,824   

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., Class A

    23,700        284,637   

Cedar Realty Trust, Inc.

    46,800        302,796   

CYS Investments, Inc.

    24,800        233,864   

FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc.

    63,600        657,624   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        45   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO WPG SMALL/MICRO CAP VALUE FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(continued)

  

Geo Group, Inc., (The)

    29,700      $ 1,111,374   

Gramercy Property Trust Inc. (a)

    85,700        530,483   

Hatteras Financial Corp.

    11,200        222,880   

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    3,910        166,371   

Lexington Realty Trust

    28,200        306,816   

Mack-Cali Realty Corp.

    11,200        236,768   

Rouse Properties, Inc. (a)

    26,300        459,724   

Starwood Property Trust, Inc.

    13,400        319,590   

Two Harbors Investment Corp.

    21,100        226,192   

Winthrop Realty Trust

    19,500        297,570   
   

 

 

 
    5,745,009   
   

 

 

 

Technology—9.7%

  

ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES Bermuda Ltd.

    6,400        153,152   

CIBER, Inc. *

    131,700        503,094   

Computer Task Group, Inc.

    32,200        411,516   

Digi International, Inc. *

    60,400        503,736   

Diodes, Inc. *

    7,900        201,055   

Dot Hill Systems Corp. *

    83,800        305,032   

Exar Corp. *

    51,800        516,446   

Extreme Networks, Inc. *

    67,900        361,907   

Generac Holdings, Inc. * (a)

    7,700        358,204   

Kofax Ltd. *

    14,300        113,399   

Plantronics, Inc.

    6,500        310,245   

Saba Software, Inc. *

    34,600        484,400   

Ultratech, Inc. *

    9,000        232,740   
   

 

 

 
    4,454,926   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—6.7%

  

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. *

    29,600        241,832   

JetBlue Airways Corp. * (a)

    50,900        622,507   

Navigator Holdings Ltd. *

    10,800        318,492   

Rand Logistics, Inc. *

    29,000        182,700   

Scorpio Bulkers, Inc. *

    53,500        426,930   

Scorpio Tankers, Inc.

    87,100        832,676   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Transportation—(continued)

  

StealthGas, Inc. *

    46,500      $ 455,235   
   

 

 

 
    3,080,372   
   

 

 

 

Utilities—4.1%

  

Cadiz, Inc. * (a)

    28,100        371,482   

Empire District Electric Co. (The) (a)

    7,600        196,460   

Great Plains Energy, Inc.

    7,600        195,092   

NorthWestern Corp.

    2,900        140,012   

Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Inc.

    9,600        359,040   

Portland General Electric Co.

    7,000        241,290   

UIL Holdings Corp.

    10,200        379,950   
   

 

 

 
    1,883,326   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $35,468,352)

      44,063,762   
   

 

 

 

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL—12.6%

  

BlackRock Liquidity TempFund, Institutional Shares

    5,806,836        5,806,836   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL
(Cost $5,806,836)

      5,806,836   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—108.4% (Cost $41,275,188)

      49,870,598   
   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS—(8.4)%

      (3,862,569
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 46,008,029   
   

 

 

 

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
PLC     Public Limited Company
*     Non-income Producing
(a)     All or a portion of the security is on loan. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements)
 

 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Common Stock *

   $ 44,063,762       $ 44,063,762       $       $   

Securities Lending Collateral

     5,806,836         5,806,836                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 49,870,598       $ 49,870,598       $         $     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* See Portfolio of Investments detail for industry and security type breakout.

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

46      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

COMMON STOCK—97.8%

   

Australia—1.7%

   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

    20,780      $ 649,382   

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd.

    192,175        370,252   
   

 

 

 
      1,019,634   
   

 

 

 

Bermuda—0.7%

   

Validus Holdings Ltd.

    10,695        418,281   
   

 

 

 

Canada—1.1%

   

Barrick Gold Corp.

    19,060        350,513   

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

    6,940        302,480   
   

 

 

 
      652,993   
   

 

 

 

China—0.7%

   

Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd.

    127,000        395,183   
   

 

 

 

France—4.3%

   

Cap Gemini SA

    6,350        451,775   

Havas SA

    44,785        366,137   

Safran SA

    12,255        803,552   

Sanofi

    6,180        677,285   

Teleperformance SA

    4,595        298,381   
   

 

 

 
      2,597,130   
   

 

 

 

Germany—5.2%

   

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    3,590        613,080   

Aurelius AG

    25,285        959,996   

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

    5,365        626,138   

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

    13,980        682,023   

NORMA Group AG

    5,178        249,451   
   

 

 

 
      3,130,688   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—2.1%

   

Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd.

    25,000        455,734   

Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.

    22,000        286,026   

SJM Holdings Ltd.

    207,000        520,545   
   

 

 

 
      1,262,305   
   

 

 

 

Ireland—1.5%

   

Greencore Group PLC

    59,775        264,161   

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

    27,385        621,529   
   

 

 

 
      885,690   
   

 

 

 

Italy—0.7%

   

Cerved Information Solutions SpA *

    68,395        427,772   
   

 

 

 

Japan—6.9%

   

Hogy Medical Co. Ltd.

    7,100        398,358   

Inpex Corp.

    43,800        627,968   

ITOCHU Corp.

    32,300        411,016   

Lintec Corp.

    29,800        637,930   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    6,900        463,475   

Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd.

    11,100        445,667   

Softbank Corp.

    5,200        375,727   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    7,900        450,766   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Japan—(continued)

   

TS Tech Co. Ltd.

    11,600      $ 311,058   
   

 

 

 
      4,121,965   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—0.8%

   

Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.

    1,720        498,955   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—5.7%

   

ACE Ltd.

    4,940        525,270   

Georg Fischer AG, Registered Shares

    795        526,964   

Glencore PLC

    48,675        293,092   

Novartis AG, Registered Shares

    9,285        834,224   

Roche Holding AG, Participation Certificate

    4,255        1,242,707   
   

 

 

 
      3,422,257   
   

 

 

 

Taiwan—1.3%

   

MediaTek, Inc.

    47,000        785,501   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—13.1%

   

Alent PLC

    67,435        392,949   

AstraZeneca PLC

    6,200        473,108   

Berendsen PLC

    24,475        434,053   

BHP Billiton PLC

    10,090        318,048   

Cambian Group PLC *

    166,810        596,779   

Entertainment One Ltd. *

    51,485        302,999   

HSBC Holdings PLC

    39,577        427,792   

ITV PLC

    128,950        452,099   

Liberty Global PLC, Series C *

    40,145        1,683,280   

Pace PLC

    54,370        299,162   

Rio Tinto PLC

    6,130        327,770   

Stock Spirits Group PLC

    204,874        1,011,829   

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    10,880        681,958   

WH Smith PLC

    24,400        467,994   
   

 

 

 
      7,869,820   
   

 

 

 

United States—52.0%

   

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

    20,115        473,507   

Allstate Corp., (The)

    8,360        514,056   

Amgen, Inc.

    6,090        848,824   

Apple, Inc.

    18,185        1,863,963   

Avnet, Inc.

    9,500        422,845   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B *

    5,455        748,699   

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. *

    11,685        281,725   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    13,200        1,083,192   

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    5,955        438,884   

Comcast Corp., Class A

    29,130        1,594,285   

Crane Co.

    9,260        644,403   

CVS Health Corp.

    20,220        1,606,479   

Diamondback Energy, Inc. *

    3,435        296,612   

Dover Corp.

    5,420        476,255   

EMC Corp.

    10,100        298,253   

Energen Corp.

    3,355        270,010   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    4,420        485,670   

EQT Corp.

    3,800        376,428   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    6,290        625,603   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    31,885        650,613   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. *

    100,340        1,283,349   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    9,115        868,021   

International Paper Co.

    6,150        297,968   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        47   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL EQUITY FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United States—(continued)

   

Johnson & Johnson

    9,960      $ 1,033,151   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    8,830        524,944   

Lear Corp.

    4,030        407,554   

Macy’s, Inc.

    13,100        815,999   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    3,665        333,552   

McKesson Corp.

    6,125        1,194,559   

Medtronic, Inc.

    6,255        399,382   

Microsoft Corp.

    40,885        1,857,406   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    5,420        579,940   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    5,075        526,430   

Packaging Corp of America

    8,160        554,798   

Pfizer, Inc.

    24,240        712,414   

QEP Resources, Inc.

    12,985        461,876   

Rice Energy, Inc. *

    11,430        334,670   

Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc. *

    17,515        419,659   

Tribune Media Co *

    9,995        762,619   

United Technologies Corp.

    3,315        357,954   

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B

    7,005        801,652   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United States—(continued)

   

Valero Energy Corp.

    5,505      $ 298,041   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    11,240        578,186   

Western Digital Corp.

    7,940        817,899   

Western Refining, Inc.

    8,960        416,909   

WR Berkley Corp.

    13,205        638,462   
   

 

 

 
      31,277,700   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $52,769,579)

      58,765,874   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—97.8%
(Cost $52,769,579)

      58,765,874   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES—2.2%

      1,321,216   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 60,087,090   
   

 

 

 

 

PLC     Public Limited Company
*     Non-income producing.
 

 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock

           

Australia

   $ 1,019,634       $       $ 1,019,634       $   

Bermuda

     418,281         418,281                   

Canada

     652,993         652,993                   

China

     395,183                 395,183           

France

     2,597,130         366,137         2,230,993           

Germany

     3,130,688                 3,130,688           

Hong Kong

     1,262,305                 1,262,305           

Ireland

     885,690                 885,690           

Italy

     427,772         427,772                   

Japan

     4,121,965                 4,121,965           

South Korea

     498,955                 498,955           

Switzerland

     3,422,257         525,270         2,896,987           

Taiwan

     785,501                 785,501           

United Kingdom

     7,869,820         3,657,965         4,211,855           

United States

     31,277,700         31,277,700                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 58,765,874       $ 37,326,118       $ 21,439,756       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

48      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

COMMON STOCK—94.3%

   

Australia—2.2%

   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

    6,675      $ 208,596   

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd.

    52,505        101,158   
   

 

 

 
      309,754   
   

 

 

 

Belgium—1.9%

  

Ageas

    4,230        141,978   

Ontex Group NV *

    5,500        131,166   
   

 

 

 
      273,144   
   

 

 

 

Canada—2.5%

  

Barrick Gold Corp.

    4,505        82,847   

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

    3,605        157,124   

Suncor Energy, Inc.

    2,765        113,494   
   

 

 

 
      353,465   
   

 

 

 

China—1.0%

  

Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd.

    45,000        140,025   
   

 

 

 

Denmark—0.4%

  

Carlsberg A/S, Class B

    690        63,085   
   

 

 

 

France—11.2%

  

Atos

    855        65,293   

AXA SA

    5,805        144,045   

Cap Gemini SA

    3,615        257,191   

Havas SA

    13,255        108,365   

LISI

    460        70,717   

Publicis Groupe SA

    825        61,494   

Safran SA

    3,735        244,901   

Sanofi

    3,295        361,109   

Teleperformance SA

    1,725        112,015   

Total SA

    2,140        141,216   
   

 

 

 
      1,566,346   
   

 

 

 

Germany—11.8%

  

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    1,445        246,769   

Aurelius AG

    7,380        280,196   

Bayer AG, Registered Shares

    1,660        223,110   

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

    1,940        226,413   

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

    7,580        369,795   

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

    1,100        104,689   

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG, Registered Shares

    335        67,260   

NORMA Group AG

    2,646        127,471   
   

 

 

 
      1,645,703   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—5.4%

  

AMVIG Holdings Ltd.

    192,000        79,790   

Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd.

    12,000        218,752   

Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.

    10,000        130,012   

Lenovo Group Ltd.

    112,000        171,027   

SJM Holdings Ltd.

    60,000        150,883   
   

 

 

 
      750,464   
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Ireland—2.2%

  

Greencore Group PLC

    22,665      $ 100,162   

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

    9,040        205,172   
   

 

 

 
      305,334   
   

 

 

 

Italy—0.9%

  

Cerved Information Solutions SpA *

    19,245        120,367   
   

 

 

 

Japan—14.7%

  

Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd.

    2,100        77,726   

Brother Industries Ltd.

    5,100        98,986   

Citizen Holdings Co. Ltd.

    12,300        87,438   

Hogy Medical Co. Ltd.

    2,400        134,656   

Inpex Corp.

    14,900        213,624   

ITOCHU Corp.

    10,200        129,795   

Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

    6,000        151,229   

Lintec Corp.

    10,000        214,071   

Message Co. Ltd.

    2,600        91,675   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    2,600        174,643   

Nippon Television Holdings, Inc.

    4,400        67,678   

Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd.

    3,300        132,496   

Softbank Corp.

    1,810        130,782   

Toho Holdings Co. Ltd.

    3,700        71,636   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    3,000        171,177   

TS Tech Co. Ltd.

    4,300        115,306   
   

 

 

 
      2,062,918   
   

 

 

 

Netherlands—1.7%

  

Aegon NV

    13,315        105,291   

Koninklijke Ahold NV

    7,871        134,475   
   

 

 

 
      239,766   
   

 

 

 

Singapore—1.2%

  

United Overseas Bank Ltd.

    9,000        165,090   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—2.7%

  

Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.

    410        118,937   

Hyundai Motor Co.

    320        73,561   

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

    70        85,231   

SK Telecom Co. Ltd.

    365        98,633   
   

 

 

 
      376,362   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—10.7%

  

Aryzta AG *

    750        68,521   

Georg Fischer AG, Registered Shares

    265        175,655   

Glencore PLC

    18,420        110,914   

Kaba Holding AG

    220        108,212   

Novartis AG, Registered Shares

    4,330        389,035   

Roche Holding AG, Participation Certificate

    1,505        439,547   

Swiss Re AG

    1,530        125,445   

Zurich Insurance Group AG

    265        80,004   
   

 

 

 
      1,497,333   
   

 

 

 

Taiwan—1.7%

  

MediaTek, Inc.

    14,000        233,979   
   

 

 

 
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        49   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United Kingdom—22.1%

  

Alent PLC

    22,395      $ 130,497   

AstraZeneca PLC

    2,415        184,283   

Berendsen PLC

    13,170        233,564   

BHP Billiton PLC

    5,475        172,578   

Cambian Group PLC *

    48,745        174,390   

Entertainment One Ltd.

    24,245        142,686   

HSBC Holdings PLC

    19,645        212,345   

ITV PLC

    52,455        183,907   

Liberty Global PLC, Series C *

    10,655        446,764   

Pace PLC

    12,835        70,623   

Rexam PLC

    17,275        145,544   

Rio Tinto PLC

    2,410        128,862   

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A

    5,090        205,999   

Standard Chartered PLC

    5,055        101,890   

Stock Spirits Group PLC

    57,868        285,798   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United Kingdom—(continued)

  

WH Smith PLC

    10,660      $ 204,460   

WPP PLC

    3,335        69,988   
   

 

 

 
      3,094,178   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $11,192,631)

      13,197,313   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—94.3%
(Cost $11,192,631)

      13,197,313   
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES—5.7%

      795,000   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 13,992,313   
   

 

 

 

 

PLC     Public Limited Company
*     Non-income producing.
 

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock

           

Australia

   $ 309,754       $       $ 309,754       $   

Belgium

     273,144         131,166         141,978           

Canada

     353,465         353,465                   

China

     140,025                 140,025           

Denmark

     63,085                 63,085           

France

     1,566,346         179,082         1,387,264           

Germany

     1,645,703                 1,645,703           

Hong Kong

     750,464                 750,464           

Ireland

     305,334                 305,334           

Italy

     120,367         120,367                   

Japan

     2,062,918                 2,062,918           

Netherlands

     239,766                 239,766           

Singapore

     165,090                 165,090           

South Korea

     376,362                 376,362           

Switzerland

     1,497,333                 1,497,333           

Taiwan

     233,979                 233,979           

United Kingdom

     3,094,178         894,337         2,199,841           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 13,197,313       $ 1,678,417       $ 11,518,896       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

50      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

LONG POSITIONS—95.6%

   

COMMON STOCK—95.6%

   

Australia—1.7%

   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

    13,942      $ 435,689   

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd.

    124,651        240,158   
   

 

 

 
    675,847   
   

 

 

 

Bermuda—0.7%

  

Validus Holdings Ltd. †

    7,004        273,926   
   

 

 

 
    273,926   
   

 

 

 

Canada—1.2%

  

Barrick Gold Corp.

    12,782        235,061   

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. †

    4,573        199,314   

Stornoway Diamond Corp. *

    83,247        49,000   
   

 

 

 
    483,375   
   

 

 

 

China—0.6%

  

Shenzhou International Group Holdings Ltd.

    83,000        258,269   
   

 

 

 
    258,269   
   

 

 

 

France—4.3%

  

Cap Gemini SA †

    4,327        307,847   

Havas SA

    29,894        244,397   

Safran SA †

    8,134        533,341   

Sanofi †

    4,197        459,962   

Teleperformance †

    3,064        198,964   
   

 

 

 
    1,744,511   
   

 

 

 

Germany—4.8%

  

Allianz SE, Registered Shares

    1,541        263,163   

Aurelius AG †

    16,878        640,807   

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG †

    3,558        415,247   

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA †

    9,354        456,340   

Norma Group SE †

    3,268        157,436   
   

 

 

 
    1,932,993   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—2.0%

  

Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd.

    16,000        291,670   

Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.

    11,000        143,013   

SJM Holdings Ltd.

    140,000        352,059   
   

 

 

 
    786,742   
   

 

 

 

Ireland—1.5%

  

Greencore Group PLC †

    38,086        168,312   

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

    18,375        417,039   
   

 

 

 
    585,351   
   

 

 

 

Italy—0.7%

  

Cerved Information Solutions SpA *

    45,780        286,328   
   

 

 

 
    286,328   
   

 

 

 

Japan—7.2%

  

Hogy Medical Co. Ltd.

    5,100        286,145   

Inpex Corp.

    29,700        425,814   
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Japan—(continued)

  

ITOCHU Corp.

    24,100      $ 306,672   

Lintec Corp.

    20,900        447,407   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    4,800        322,418   

Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.

    7,300        293,097   

SoftBank Corp.

    3,400        245,668   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    5,800        330,942   

TS Tech Co., Ltd.

    8,900        238,656   
   

 

 

 
    2,896,819   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—0.8%

  

Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd.

    1,154        334,764   
   

 

 

 
    334,764   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—5.6%

  

ACE Ltd. †

    3,184        338,555   

Georg Fischer AG, Registered Shares †

    534        353,961   

Glencore PLC

    32,120        193,408   

Novartis AG, Registered Shares †

    6,136        551,298   

Roche Holding AG, Participation Certificate †

    2,796        816,594   
   

 

 

 
    2,253,816   
   

 

 

 

Taiwan—1.4%

  

MediaTek, Inc.

    33,000        551,522   
   

 

 

 
    551,522   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—12.2%

  

Alent PLC

    42,633        248,426   

AstraZeneca PLC

    4,160        317,440   

Berendsen PLC †

    16,016        284,036   

BHP Billiton PLC †

    6,595        207,882   

Cambian Group PLC *

    110,719        396,108   

Entertainment One Ltd. †

    33,976        199,955   

HSBC Holdings PLC †

    25,844        279,351   

ITV PLC

    85,098        298,354   

Liberty Global PLC, Series C * †

    26,595        1,115,128   

Pace PLC †

    28,378        156,145   

Stock Spirits Group PLC †

    128,965        636,931   

TE Connectivity Ltd. †

    7,299        457,501   

WH Smith PLC †

    16,101        308,818   
   

 

 

 
    4,906,075   
   

 

 

 

United States—50.9%

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc. †

    13,337        313,953   

Allstate Corp., (The) †

    5,677        349,079   

Amgen, Inc. †

    4,057        565,465   

Apple, Inc. †

    12,201        1,250,603   

Avnet, Inc. †

    6,350        282,639   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B * †

    3,573        490,394   

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. * †

    7,866        189,649   

Capital One Financial Corp. †

    8,716        715,235   

Comcast Corp., Class A †

    19,222        1,052,020   

Crane Co. †

    5,665        394,227   

CVS Health Corp. †

    13,022        1,034,598   

Diamondback Energy, Inc. * †

    3,321        286,768   
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        51   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United States—(continued)

  

Dover Corp. †

    3,511      $ 308,512   

EMC Corp. †

    6,860        202,576   

Energen Corp. †

    2,221        178,746   

EOG Resources, Inc. †

    2,963        325,574   

EQT Corp. †

    2,527        250,325   

Exxon Mobil Corp. †

    4,198        417,533   

Fifth Third Bancorp †

    21,147        431,505   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. * †

    66,258        847,440   

Honeywell International, Inc. †

    6,068        577,856   

International Paper Co. †

    4,136        200,389   

Johnson & Johnson †

    6,529        677,253   

JPMorgan Chase & Co. †

    5,883        349,744   

Lear Corp.

    2,725        275,579   

Macy’s, Inc. †

    6,381        397,472   

Marathon Petroleum Corp. †

    2,456        223,521   

McKesson Corp. †

    4,009        781,875   

Medtronic, Inc. †

    4,186        267,276   

Microsoft Corp. †

    27,227        1,236,923   

Norfolk Southern Corp. †

    3,614        386,698   

Occidental Petroleum Corp. †

    3,402        352,889   

Packaging Corp. of America †

    5,463        371,429   

Parsley Energy, Inc., Class A *

    6,636        145,461   

Pfizer, Inc. †

    16,431        482,907   

QEP Resources, Inc. †

    4,520        160,776   

Rice Energy, Inc. * †

    7,444        217,960   

Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc. *

    11,509        275,756   

Tribune Media Co., Class A * †

    6,827        520,900   

United Technologies Corp.

    2,173        234,641   

Universal Health Services, Inc., Class B †

    4,539        519,443   

Valero Energy Corp. †

    3,601        194,958   

Viper Energy Partners LP * †

    3,111        99,303   

Wells Fargo & Co. †

    7,491        385,337   

Western Digital Corp. †

    5,295        545,438   

Western Refining, Inc. †

    5,939        276,342   

WR Berkley Corp.

    8,965        433,458   
   

 

 

 
      20,478,425   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Cost $37,052,538)

   

    38,448,763   
   

 

 

 

WARRANTS—0.0%

  

Canada—0.0%

  

Stornoway Diamond Corp. *
Exercise Price CAD 0.90,
Expires 7/08/16

    36,284        3,838   
   

 

 

 
      3,838   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL WARRANTS
(Cost $3,889)

   

    3,838   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS—95.6%
(Cost $37,056,427)

   

    38,452,601   
   

 

 

 

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT—(47.5%)

  

 

COMMON STOCK—(47.5%)

   

Austria—(0.3%)

   

Rosenbauer International AG

    (1,268     (115,377
   

 

 

 
    (115,377
   

 

 

 
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Canada—(0.6%)

  

ShawCor Ltd.

    (1,886   $ (102,218

Teck Resources Ltd., Class B

    (6,716     (152,504
   

 

 

 
    (254,722
   

 

 

 

Cayman Island—(0.2%)

  

Macau Legend Development Ltd *

    (167,000     (92,616
   

 

 

 
    (92,616
   

 

 

 

China—(0.4%)

  

Mindray Medical International Ltd. — ADR

    (5,044     (157,575
   

 

 

 
    (157,575
   

 

 

 

Denmark—(0.3%)

  

William Demant Holding A/S *

    (1,723     (133,125
   

 

 

 
    (133,125
   

 

 

 

Finland—(0.8%)

  

Huhtamaki OYJ

    (5,858     (157,237

Konecranes OYJ

    (4,948     (157,204
   

 

 

 
    (314,441
   

 

 

 

France—(3.0%)

  

Bureau Veritas SA

    (6,751     (160,495

Dassault Systemes

    (2,014     (133,476

Hermes International

    (555     (191,015

Kering

    (557     (118,084

Legrand SA

    (1,916     (105,954

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA — Unsponsored ADR

    (5,014     (173,785

Remy Cointreau SA

    (1,998     (158,804

SEB SA

    (1,957     (154,057
   

 

 

 
    (1,195,670
   

 

 

 

Germany—(2.3%)

  

Adidas AG

    (2,151     (161,742

Beiersdorf AG

    (2,055     (181,167

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

    (4,215     (128,753

K+S AG, Registered Shares

    (4,400     (136,904

Linde AG

    (485     (96,116

Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG

    (1,471     (132,862

SGL Carbon SE *

    (3,589     (105,172
   

 

 

 
    (942,716
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—(1.0%)

  

AAC Technologies Holdings, Inc.

    (15,000     (97,821

ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd.

    (8,900     (92,617

Vtech Holdings Ltd.

    (16,600     (203,483
   

 

 

 
    (393,921
   

 

 

 

India—(0.6%)

  

HDFC Bank Ltd. — ADR

    (1,969     (97,840

Infosys Ltd. — Sponsored ADR

    (2,147     (127,747
   

 

 

 
    (225,587
   

 

 

 
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

52      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

Ireland—(0.3%)

  

James Hardie Industries PLC

    (11,186   $ (134,066
   

 

 

 
    (134,066
   

 

 

 

Israel—(0.4%)

  

Stratasys Ltd. *

    (1,347     (161,586
   

 

 

 
    (161,586
   

 

 

 

Italy—(0.8%)

  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA

    (33,616     (100,092

Prada SpA

    (16,600     (117,574

UniCredit SpA

    (12,766     (99,007
   

 

 

 
    (316,673
   

 

 

 

Japan—(3.1%)

  

Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.

    (800     (250,525

FP Corp.

    (4,200     (134,974

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

    (5,000     (198,541

Hulic Co., Ltd.

    (17,400     (197,782

Keikyu Corp.

    (17,000     (149,648

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

    (1,600     (178,345

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd.

    (10,400     (142,343
   

 

 

 
    (1,252,158
   

 

 

 

Luxembourg—(0.3%)

  

Millicom International Cellular SA — SDR

    (1,101     (98,764
   

 

 

 
    (98,764
   

 

 

 

New Zealand—(0.6%)

  

Ryman Healthcare Ltd.

    (18,526     (124,941

Xero Ltd. *

    (6,314     (133,350
   

 

 

 
    (258,291
   

 

 

 

Spain—(1.2%)

  

Banco de Sabadell SA

    (32,191     (101,360

Banco Santander SA

    (13,925     (138,736

CaixaBank SA

    (20,531     (123,581

Viscofan SA

    (1,823     (101,680
   

 

 

 
    (465,357
   

 

 

 

Sweden—(0.8%)

  

Autoliv, Inc.

    (1,445     (149,832

Elekta AB, Class B

    (16,340     (186,791
   

 

 

 
    (336,623
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—(0.9%)

  

Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG, Registered Shares

    (1,583     (224,993

SGS SA

    (65     (144,336
   

 

 

 
    (369,329
   

 

 

 

Thailand—(0.3%)

  

Siam Commercial Bank PCL, (The)

    (19,500     (114,179
   

 

 

 
    (114,179
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—(2.8%)

  

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC

    (17,727     (128,193

B&M European Value Retail SA *

    (34,508     (159,261

Diageo PLC

    (7,390     (218,079
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United Kingdom—(continued)

  

G4S PLC

    (35,093   $ (154,539

Michael Page International PLC

    (21,339     (161,510

Ocado Group PLC *

    (24,831     (135,412

Saga PLC *

    (53,353     (164,746
   

 

 

 
      (1,121,740
   

 

 

 

United States—(26.5%)

   

3D Systems Corp. *

    (3,911     (209,278

ABIOMED, Inc. *

    (5,589     (145,593

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

    (1,309     (174,372

Alere, Inc. *

    (3,897     (138,149

American Axle & Manaufacturing Holdings, Inc. *

    (5,996     (108,528

AptarGroup, Inc.

    (2,604     (167,047

Astoria Financial Corp.

    (12,573     (164,329

AutoNation, Inc. *

    (2,942     (159,604

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. *

    (873     (128,986

Cabela’s, Inc. *

    (2,317     (141,383

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

    (2,790     (93,577

CarMax, Inc. *

    (4,052     (212,325

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. *

    (1,215     (76,205

Caterpillar, Inc.

    (1,148     (125,212

Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)

    (5,199     (233,695

Clorox Co. (The)

    (984     (87,182

Community Bank System, Inc.

    (2,470     (87,290

Concur Technologies, Inc. *

    (1,522     (152,778

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

    (3,510     (141,383

Continental Resources, Inc. *

    (1,218     (196,451

Dorman Products, Inc. *

    (1,977     (88,629

Eaton Vance Corp.

    (6,202     (242,870

EQT Midstream Partners LP

    (1,227     (119,620

FactSet Research Systems, Inc.

    (869     (110,711

First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

    (6,985     (205,289

Goodrich Petroleum Corp. *

    (4,112     (90,875

Greenhill & Co., Inc.

    (4,284     (210,002

Guess?, Inc.

    (7,960     (186,582

HeartWare International, Inc. *

    (1,126     (91,319

HollyFrontier Corp.

    (3,349     (167,550

Insulet Corp. *

    (5,146     (185,822

Interface, Inc.

    (6,120     (104,224

Intrepid Potash, Inc. *

    (8,952     (137,234

Itron, Inc. *

    (4,177     (176,353

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

    (1,795     (135,612

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc *

    (12,184     (207,250

L Brands, Inc.

    (2,943     (187,911

Matador Resources Co. *

    (3,130     (85,637

Mattel, Inc.

    (4,685     (161,586

Mobile Mini, Inc.

    (3,877     (151,862

Mondelez International Inc

    (3,160     (114,360

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.

    (5,203     (269,255

Monster Beverage Corp. *

    (1,552     (137,212

National Instruments Corp.

    (5,234     (173,507

Netflix, Inc. *

    (300     (143,292

NetSuite, Inc. *

    (2,049     (179,574

NewMarket Corp.

    (438     (178,218

NOW Inc. *

    (3,875     (127,991

Oasis Petroleum, Inc. *

    (1,990     (97,888

Pandora Media, Inc. *

    (5,328     (144,069

Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.

    (1,742     (70,777
 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        53   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (continued)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United States—(continued)

   

Post Holdings, Inc. *

    (2,424   $ (89,615

Proto Labs, Inc. *

    (1,210     (91,040

PVH Corp.

    (1,603     (187,134

Raven Industries, Inc.

    (5,091     (135,726

ResMed, Inc.

    (3,128     (165,940

Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. *

    (1,116     (93,599

Rollins, Inc.

    (3,833     (114,032

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. *

    (3,674     (102,431

Shutterstock, Inc. *

    (1,521     (107,687

Snyders-Lance, Inc.

    (5,602     (152,711

Sun Hydraulics Corp.

    (3,104     (124,253

Trex Co., Inc. *

    (4,874     (183,262

Trustmark Corp.

    (5,317     (126,199

Tumi Holdings, Inc. *

    (6,797     (152,797

UMB Financial Corp.

    (2,100     (121,275

Under Armour, Inc., Class A *

    (1,579     (107,940

United Bankshares, Inc.

    (3,130     (103,134

United Natural Foods, Inc. *

    (1,997     (128,387

ViaSat, Inc. *

    (2,053     (116,898

Vulcan Materials Co.

    (1,445     (91,584

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

    (487     (119,899
    Number of
Shares
    Value  

United States—(continued)

   

Wausau Paper Corp.

    (17,760   $ (161,971

Weatherford International PLC *

    (6,348     (150,384

Westamerica Bancorporation

    (1,826     (88,324
   

 

 

 
      (10,642,670
   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Proceeds $19,483,804)

      (19,097,186
   

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT—(47.5%)
(Proceeds $19,483,804)

      (19,097,186
   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES—51.9%

      20,888,929   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS—100.0%

    $ 40,244,344   
   

 

 

 

 

ADR     American Depositary Receipt
PLC     Public Limited Company
*     Non-income producing.
    Security position is either entirely or partially held in a segregated account as collateral for securities sold short.

 

 

Contracts For Difference held by the Fund at August 31, 2014, are as follows:

 

Reference Company      Counterparty        Number of
Contracts (Short)
     Notional
Amount
       Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Chailease Holding Co., Ltd.

       Goldman Sachs           (106,700    $ 276,361         $ (12,695

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is as follows (see Note I in the Notes to Financial Statements):

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
           

Common Stock

           

Australia

   $ 675,847       $       $ 675,847       $   

Bermuda

     273,926         273,926              

Canada

     483,375         483,375                   

China

     258,269                 258,269           

France

     1,744,511         244,397         1,500,114           

Germany

     1,932,993                 1,932,993           

Hong Kong

     786,742                 786,742           

Ireland

     585,351                 585,351           

Italy

     286,328         286,328                   

Japan

     2,896,819                 2,896,819           

South Korea

     334,764                 334,764           

Switzerland

     2,253,816         338,555         1,915,261           

Taiwan

     551,522                 551,522           

United Kingdom

     4,906,075         2,417,118         2,488,957           

United States

     20,478,425         20,478,425                   

Warrants

     3,838         3,838                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 38,452,601       $ 24,525,962       $ 13,926,639       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

54      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

ROBECO BOSTON PARTNERS GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND (concluded)

  PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

 

     Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Securities Sold Short

           

Austria

   $ (115,377    $ (115,377    $       $   

Canada

     (254,722      (254,722                

Cayman Island

     (92,616              (92,616        

China

     (157,575      (157,575                

Denmark

     (133,125      (133,125                

Finland

     (314,441              (314,441        

France

     (1,195,670      (332,589      (863,081        

Germany

     (942,716              (942,716        

Hong Kong

     (393,921      (296,100      (97,821        

India

     (225,587      (225,587                

Ireland

     (134,066              (134,066        

Israel

     (161,586      (161,586                

Italy

     (316,673              (316,673   

Japan

     (1,252,158              (1,252,158        

Luxembourg

     (98,764              (98,764        

New Zealand

     (258,291              (258,291        

Spain

     (465,357              (465,357        

Sweden

     (336,623      (149,832      (186,791        

Switzerland

     (369,329              (369,329        

Thailand

     (114,179              (114,179        

United Kingdom

     (1,121,740      (324,007      (797,733        

United States

     (10,642,670      (10,642,670                

Contracts for difference

     (12,695              (12,695        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (19,109,881    $ (12,793,170    $ (6,316,711    $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        55   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

 

     Robeco Boston
Partners
Small Cap
Value Fund II
     Robeco Boston
Partners
Long/Short
Equity Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners
Long/Short
Research Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners
All-Cap
Value  Fund
 

ASSETS

         

Investments in securities, at value † ^

   $ 215,960,831       $ 915,329,382      $ 5,160,969,777      $ 934,907,385   

Cash

     7,623,042         79,213,775        350,966,856        24,647,269   

Foreign currency, at value #

                    4,950,130          

Receivables

         

Investments sold

     2,499,433         7,593,935        26,755,241          

Deposits with brokers for securities sold short

             514,538,316        2,492,424,063          

Dividends and interest

     173,071         1,040,413        8,250,169        1,712,031   

Capital shares sold

     131,738         1,149,932        16,540,586        944,783   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     21,987         44,809        98,392        32,413   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     226,410,102         1,518,910,562        8,060,955,214        962,243,881   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

         

Securities sold short, at fair value ‡

             532,618,566        2,494,330,684          

Options written, at value *

             14,900        2,755,524        796,240   

Foreign cash overdraft #

                    19,872          

Payables

         

Securities lending collateral

     9,407,600         31,865,745               5,021,034   

Investments purchased

     2,080,456         1,180,084        19,384,403          

Capital shares redeemed

     88,602         1,362,612        13,139,983        1,603,013   

Due to prime broker

             61,637,316        171,577,608          

Investment advisory fees

     164,515         1,695,718        5,547,019        456,049   

Custodian fees

     16,663         75,532        407,913        70,388   

Distribution and service fees

     23,337         45,234        60,630        44,774   

Dividends on securities sold-short

             71,479        4,331,841          

Administration and accounting fees

     36,006         113,744        342,217        107,094   

Prime broker interest payable

             2,482        6,871          

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     16,865         22,764        11,227        3,601   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     47,801         76,883        402,626        76,706   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     11,881,845         630,783,059        2,712,318,418        8,178,899   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 214,528,257       $ 888,127,503      $ 5,348,636,796      $ 954,064,982   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

         

Par value

   $ 9,668       $ 39,794      $ 353,359      $ 41,528   

Paid-in capital

     149,136,970         745,780,075        4,824,610,334        705,419,580   

Undistributed net investment income/(accumulated net investment loss)

     496,166         (17,692,303     (29,066,893     5,521,256   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments, securities sold short, written options and foreign currency translation

     594,776         49,725,321        6,249,516        30,487,253   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, securities sold short, written options and foreign currency translation

     64,290,677         110,274,616        546,490,480        212,595,365   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 214,528,257       $ 888,127,503      $ 5,348,636,796      $ 954,064,982   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

         

Net assets

   $ 102,111,592       $ 676,755,790      $ 5,054,387,970      $ 736,475,437   

Shares outstanding

     4,508,352         29,884,800        333,745,324        32,025,641   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 22.65       $ 22.65      $ 15.14      $ 23.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTOR CLASS

         

Net assets

   $ 112,416,665       $ 211,371,713      $ 294,248,826      $ 217,589,545   

Shares outstanding

     5,159,350         9,909,010        19,613,854        9,502,822   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 21.79       $ 21.33      $ 15.00      $ 22.90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

† Investment in securities, at cost

   $ 151,670,154       $ 739,443,302      $ 4,494,934,402      $ 722,259,387   

^ Includes market value of securities on loan

   $ 9,344,938       $ 31,085,197      $      $ 4,978,256   

# Foreign currency, at cost

   $       $      $ 4,981,527      $   

‡ Proceeds received, securities sold short

   $       $ 466,695,119      $ 2,374,452,957      $   

* Premiums received, options written

   $       $ 326,590      $ 3,161,737      $ 743,607   

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

56      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (concluded)

 

 

     Robeco WPG
Small/Micro Cap
Value Fund
     Robeco Boston
Partners Global
Equity Fund
     Robeco Boston
Partners
International
Equity Fund
     Robeco Boston
Partners Global
Long/Short
Fund
 

ASSETS

           

Investments in securities, at value † ^

   $ 49,870,598       $ 58,765,874       $ 13,197,313       $ 38,452,601   

Cash

     2,003,097         1,276,298         841,905         1,492,235   

Foreign currency, at value #

             49,996         2,443         23,407   

Receivables

           

Investments sold

     59,571                         203,030   

Deposits with brokers for securities sold short

                             19,119,428   

Dividends and interest

     34,308         126,686         52,707         57,021   

Capital shares sold

                             444,850   

Investment adviser

             2,541         21,403           

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     13,756         11,240         4,248         14,095   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     51,981,330         60,232,635         14,120,019         59,806,667   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

           

Securities sold short, at fair value ‡

                             19,097,186   

Payables

           

Securities lending collateral

     5,806,836                           

Investments purchased

     45,741         44,904         43,385         307,184   

Capital shares redeemed

     25,341                           

Due to prime broker

                             5,744   

Investment advisory fees

     21,837         21,642                 29,726   

Custodian fees

     19,651         20,223         24,839         16,941   

Distribution and service fees

                             506   

Dividends on securities sold-short

                             35,403   

Administration and accounting fees

     15,316         15,815         10,973         10,677   

Prime broker interest payable

                             3,343   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     1,763         741         1,920         1,476   

Unrealized loss on contracts for difference

                             12,695   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     36,816         42,220         46,589         41,442   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     5,973,301         145,545         127,706         19,562,323   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 46,008,029       $ 60,087,090       $ 13,992,313       $ 40,244,344   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

           

Par value

   $ 2,253       $ 3,855       $ 1,033       $ 3,909   

Paid-in capital

     33,779,661         51,325,103         10,472,530         38,965,563   

Undistributed net investment income/(accumulated net investment loss)

     177,498         546,411         230,443         (5,296

Accumulated net realized gain/(loss) from investments, securities sold short, contracts for difference and foreign currency translation

     3,453,207         2,216,637         1,283,916         (489,806

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, securities sold short, contracts for difference and foreign currency translation

     8,595,410         5,995,084         2,004,391         1,769,974   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 46,008,029       $ 60,087,090       $ 13,992,313       $ 40,244,344   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

           

Net assets

   $ 46,008,029       $ 60,087,090       $ 13,992,313       $ 37,403,092   

Shares outstanding

     2,253,403         3,854,771         1,033,273         3,632,899   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 20.42       $ 15.59       $ 13.54       $ 10.30   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

INVESTOR CLASS

           

Net assets

   $       $       $       $ 2,841,252   

Shares outstanding

                             276,209   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $       $       $       $ 10.29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

† Investment in securities, at cost

   $ 41,275,188       $ 52,769,579       $ 11,192,631       $ 37,056,427   

^ Includes market value of securities on loan

   $ 5,656,829       $       $       $   

# Foreign currency, at cost

   $       $ 49,909       $ 2,448       $ 23,576   

‡ Proceeds received, securities sold short

   $       $       $       $ 19,483,804   

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        57   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    FOR THE YEAR ENDED  AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

     Robeco Boston
Partners
Small Cap
Value Fund II
    Robeco Boston
Partners
Long/Short
Equity Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners
Long/Short
Research Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners
All-Cap
Value  Fund
 

Investment Income

        

Dividends †

   $ 3,484,097      $ 11,260,975      $ 62,455,806      $ 13,576,508   

Interest

     670        93,210        496,798        2,657   

Income from securities loaned (Note 6)

     220,446        339,991               24,789   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

     3,705,213        11,694,176        62,952,604        13,603,954   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

        

Advisory fees (Note 2)

     1,965,368        18,970,872        46,092,928        6,222,767   

Distribution fees (Investor Class) (Note 2)

     268,530        527,477        529,610        397,495   

Administration and accounting fees (Note 2)

     185,362        636,603        1,714,055        565,371   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

     97,393        239,649        1,397,986        122,547   

Registration and filing fees

     36,792        78,576        697,935        90,571   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     28,015        58,366        145,331        48,357   

Audit fees

     26,682        30,906        30,956        29,193   

Custodian fees (Note 2)

     22,725        130,111        560,515        99,684   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     21,952        62,372        192,967        45,262   

Legal fees

     21,717        98,459        382,176        80,048   

Dividend expense on securities sold-short

            2,311,923        30,884,657          

Prime broker interest expense

            13,801,652        10,918,240          

Other expenses

     10,286        40,799        70,131        25,721   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

     2,684,822        36,987,765        93,617,487        7,727,016   

Less: waivers and reimbursements

     (41,219                   (1,880,600
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

     2,643,603        36,987,765        93,617,487        5,846,416   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)

     1,061,610        (25,293,589     (30,664,883     7,757,538   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

        

Investments

     11,625,465        143,935,060  *      168,686,125        40,400,339   

Investments sold-short

            (78,650,870     (147,765,055       

Foreign currency transactions

            140,852        (6,295,487       

Written options **

            (1,614,999     1,442,953        (89,043

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investments

     20,145,483        45,680,601        530,964,299        112,716,702   

Investments sold short

            25,441,762        (79,889,256       

Foreign currency translation

            297        471,025          

Written options **

            (425,581     (339,744     5,099   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     31,770,948        134,507,122        467,274,860        153,033,097   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 32,832,558      $ 109,213,533      $ 436,609,977      $ 160,790,635   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

† Net of foreign withholding taxes of

   $      $ (439,517   $ (1,237,368   $ (269,185
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Includes realized loss on purchased options of $(731,865). Primary risk is equity contracts
** Primary risk is equity contracts

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

58      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    FOR THE YEAR ENDED  AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (concluded)

 

 

     Robeco WPG
Small/Micro Cap
Value Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners Global
Equity Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners
International
Equity Fund
    Robeco Boston
Partners Global
Long/Short
Fund*
 

Investment Income

        

Dividends †

   $ 702,611      $ 1,124,393      $ 389,099      $ 205,129   

Interest

     223        202        68        7,742   

Income from securities loaned (Note 6)

     67,066                        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

     769,900        1,124,595        389,167        212,871   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

        

Advisory fees (Note 2)

     394,293        462,940        118,124        173,646   

Administration and accounting fees (Note 2)

     79,304        91,302        97,067        52,562   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

     55,035        31,539        31,512        44,278   

Custodian fees (Note 2)

     29,713        26,592        33,639        19,432   

Audit fees

     25,675        31,499        27,097        27,105   

Registration and filing fees

     22,002        38,175        38,983        8,128   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     21,331        20,870        19,694        9,281   

Legal fees

     5,020        3,550        388        1,151   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     2,298        1,013        495        1,575   

Distribution fees (Investor Class) (Note 2)

                          1,294   

Dividend expense on securities sold-short

                          122,370   

Prime broker interest expense

                          97,898   

Other expenses

     5,802        5,532        6,334        5,308   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

     640,473        713,012        373,333        564,028   

Less: waivers and reimbursements

     (27,146     (217,404     (245,065     (113,584
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

     613,327        495,608        128,268        450,444   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)

     156,573        628,987        260,899        (237,573
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

        

Investments

     6,948,796        2,389,243        1,411,230        (201,027

Investments sold short

                          (278,046

Foreign currency transactions

            (87,144     (11,929     (65,267

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investments

     (60,529     4,346,938        397,492        1,396,174   

Investments sold short

                          386,618   

Foreign currency translation

            506        15        (123

Contracts for difference**

                          (12,695
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     6,888,267        6,649,543        1,796,808        1,225,634   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 7,044,840      $ 7,278,530      $ 2,057,707      $ 988,061   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

† Net of foreign withholding taxes of

   $ (3,768   $ (59,197   $ (32,826   $ (23,701
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Inception Date of the Fund was December 31, 2013.

 

** Primary risk is equity contracts

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        59   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

     Robeco Boston Partners
Small Cap Value Fund II
    Robeco Boston Partners
Long/Short Equity Fund
 
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

        

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ 1,061,610      $ 568,706      $ (25,293,589   $ (20,622,645

Net realized gain from investments, securities sold short, written options and foreign currency

     11,625,465        7,727,178        63,810,043        64,972,332   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments, securities sold short, written options and foreign currency

     20,145,483        23,481,128        70,697,079        12,934,395   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     32,832,558        31,777,012        109,213,533        57,284,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

        

Net investment income

        

Institutional Class

     (345,221     (330,981              

Investor Class

     (237,918     (239,393              

Net realized capital gains

        

Institutional Class

                   (36,987,514     (31,483,030

Investor Class

                   (13,170,066     (11,609,468
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (583,139     (570,374     (50,157,580     (43,092,498
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

     28,174,661        19,307,982        162,787,046        194,729,408   

Reinvestment of distributions

     324,783        315,205        26,413,733        22,073,849   

Shares redeemed

     (17,191,647     (11,010,452     (179,141,615     (112,476,432

Redemption fees (Note 8)

     2,396               341,715        226,043   

Investor Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

     25,973,463        22,599,993        42,099,643        74,413,011   

Reinvestment of distributions

     233,663        236,002        12,197,068        11,016,840   

Shares redeemed

     (18,920,805     (19,269,204     (76,854,075     (39,083,760

Redemption fees (Note 8)

     2,956               116,495        79,485   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     18,599,470        12,179,526        (12,039,990     150,978,444   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     50,848,889        43,386,164        47,015,963        165,170,028   

Net assets

        

Beginning of year

     163,679,368        120,293,204        841,111,540        675,941,512   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 214,528,257      $ 163,679,368      $ 888,127,503      $ 841,111,540   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income/(loss),
end of year

   $ 496,166      $ 9,057      $ (17,692,303   $ (640,459
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Shares sold

     1,287,470        1,111,634        7,541,514        9,225,509   

Shares reinvested

     15,262        19,314        1,291,625        1,094,171   

Shares redeemed

     (804,194     (622,538     (8,592,855     (5,349,876
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     498,538        508,410       
240,284
  
    4,969,804   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor Class

        

Shares sold

     1,306,062        1,361,719        2,068,807        3,725,052   

Shares reinvested

     11,392        15,003        632,300        575,283   

Shares redeemed

     (912,305     (1,147,672     (3,894,482     (1,956,277
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     405,149        229,050       
(1,193,375

    2,344,058   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

60      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)

 

 

     Robeco Boston Partners
Long/Short Research Fund
    Robeco Boston Partners
All-Cap Value Fund
 
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

        

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ (30,664,883   $ (8,746,108   $ 7,757,538      $ 5,540,050   

Net realized gain/(loss) from investments, securities sold short, written options and foreign currency

     16,068,536        (3,616,597     40,311,296        13,930,912   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments, securities sold short, written options and foreign currency

     451,206,324        84,166,780        112,721,801        71,276,589   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     436,609,977        71,804,075        160,790,635        90,747,551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

        

Net investment income

        

Institutional Class

                   (4,677,165     (5,354,408

Investor Class

                   (911,496     (396,553

Net realized capital gains

        

Institutional Class

     (10,191,255     (3,652,979     (15,951,494     (1,983,575

Investor Class

     (644,954     (626,444     (3,674,790     (170,547
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (10,836,209     (4,279,423     (25,214,945     (7,905,083
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

     3,419,038,875        1,560,210,535        242,389,813        94,185,087   

Reinvestment of distributions

     5,470,231        3,332,064        18,483,816        6,790,733   

Shares redeemed

     (515,145,972     (134,081,253     (74,884,387     (78,414,413

Redemption fees (Note 8)

     154,051        69,975                 

Investor Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

     180,979,395        86,157,330        141,871,828        54,038,094   

Reinvestment of distributions

     626,724        616,804        4,474,110        542,146   

Shares redeemed

     (44,186,169     (10,387,646     (33,638,548     (9,265,249

Redemption fees (Note 8)

     9,674        7,497                 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital transactions

     3,046,946,809        1,505,925,306        298,696,632        67,876,398   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     3,472,720,577        1,573,449,958        434,272,322        150,718,866   

Net assets

        

Beginning of year

     1,875,916,219        302,466,261        519,792,660        369,073,794   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 5,348,636,796      $ 1,875,916,219      $ 954,064,982      $ 519,792,660   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income/(loss),
end of year

   $ (29,066,893   $ (9,685,963   $ 5,521,256      $ 3,371,001   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Shares sold

     237,515,897        119,828,386        11,615,055        5,222,054   

Shares reinvested

     384,686        269,806        902,530        427,359   

Shares redeemed

     (35,242,438     (10,349,319     (3,515,836     (4,718,642
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     202,658,145        109,748,873        9,001,749        930,771   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investor Class

        

Shares sold

     12,636,422        6,723,198        6,795,381        2,941,809   

Shares reinvested

     44,386        50,187        219,104        34,205   

Shares redeemed

     (3,099,558     (813,591     (1,587,653     (525,121
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     9,581,250        5,959,794        5,426,832        2,450,893   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        61   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)

 

 

     Robeco WPG
Small/Micro Cap Value Fund
    Robeco Boston Partners
Global Equity Fund
 
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

        

Net investment income

   $ 156,573      $ 166,781      $ 628,987      $ 115,056   

Net realized gain from investments and foreign currency

     6,948,796        6,470,040        2,302,099        1,381,402   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments and foreign currency

     (60,529     5,215,538        4,347,444        655,470   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     7,044,840        11,852,359        7,278,530        2,151,928   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

        

Net investment income

        

Institutional Class

     (50,358     (177,056     (91,861     (132,255

Net realized capital gains

        

Institutional Class

     (3,952,860            (1,411,674     (89,015
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (4,003,218     (177,056     (1,503,535     (221,270
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

     1,940,266        1,279,852        54,896,316        10,533,433   

Reinvestment of distributions

     3,615,431        164,540        1,503,534        221,270   

Shares redeemed

     (3,343,540     (9,732,943     (13,584,041     (12,423,048
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     2,212,157        (8,288,551     42,815,809        (1,668,345
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     5,253,779        3,386,752        48,590,804        262,313   

Net assets

        

Beginning of year

     40,754,250        37,367,498        11,496,286        11,233,973   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 46,008,029      $ 40,754,250      $ 60,087,090      $ 11,496,286   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income/(loss),
end of year

   $ 177,498      $ (114,130   $ 546,411      $ 82,524   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Shares sold

     96,374        69,365        3,756,181        864,742   

Shares reinvested

     185,502        10,726        105,585        19,444   

Shares redeemed

     (166,761     (551,765     (893,583     (1,018,952
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     115,115        (471,674     2,968,183        (134,766
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

62      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (concluded)

 

 

     Robeco Boston Partners
International Equity Fund
     Robeco Boston
Partners Global
Long/Short Fund
 
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
     For the
Period Ended
August 31, 2014*
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

        

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ 260,899       $ 184,786       $ (237,573

Net realized gain/(loss) from investments, securities sold short and foreign currency

     1,399,301         1,225,561         (544,340

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments, securities sold short, contracts for difference and foreign currency

     397,507         827,263         1,769,974   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     2,057,707         2,237,610         988,061   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

        

Net investment income

        

Institutional Class

     (180,952      (131,147        

Net realized capital gains

        

Institutional Class

     (1,228,663      (78,542        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (1,409,615      (209,689        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

     13,683,362         10,203,550         36,909,632   

Reinvestment of distributions

     1,409,616         209,689           

Shares redeemed

     (12,852,890      (12,232,244      (441,329

Redemption fees (Note 8)

                     252   

Investor Class

        

Proceeds from shares sold

                     2,787,714   

Redemption fees (Note 8)

                     14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital transactions

     2,240,088         (1,819,005      39,256,283   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     2,888,180         208,916         40,244,344   

Net assets

        

Beginning of period/year

     11,104,133         10,895,217           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of period/year

   $ 13,992,313       $ 11,104,133       $ 40,244,344   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income/(loss),
end of period/year

   $ 230,443       $ 162,425       $ (5,296
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share transactions:

        

Institutional Class

        

Shares sold

     1,003,840         852,881         3,676,348   

Shares reinvested

     109,698         18,218           

Shares redeemed

     (942,305      (1,018,530      (43,449
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     171,233         (147,431      3,632,899   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investor Class

        

Shares sold

                     276,209   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase

                     276,209   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Inception Date of the Fund was December 31, 2013.

 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        63   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS    AUGUST 31, 2014

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW(1)

 

 

     Robeco Boston
Partners Global
Long/Short Fund
 
     For the Period
December 31, 2013* to
August 31, 2014
 

Cash flows provided from (used in) operating activities:

  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 988,061   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

  

Purchases of long-term portfolio investments

     (48,849,338

Proceeds from disposition of long-term portfolio investments

     11,591,885   

Purchase to cover short sales

     (9,832,425

Proceeds from short sales

     29,038,182   

Net realized loss on investments and investments sold short

     479,073   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and investments sold short

     (1,782,792

Net unrealized depreciation on contracts for difference

     12,695   

Increase in deposits with brokers for securities sold short

     (19,119,428

Increase in receivable for investments sold

     (203,030

Increase in dividend and interest receivable

     (57,021

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (14,095

Increase in payable for securities purchased

     307,184   

Increase in payable for investment advisory fees

     29,726   

Increase in payable for distribution and service fees

     506   

Increase in payable for custodian fees

     16,941   

Increase in payable for dividends on securities sold-short

     35,403   

Increase in prime broker interest payable

     3,343   

Increase in administration and accounting fees

     10,677   

Increase in printing and shareholder reporting fees

     1,476   

Increase in other accrued expenses and liabilities

     41,442   
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (37,301,535
  

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

  

Increase in payable to Prime Broker

     5,744   

Net proceeds from capital share transactions

     38,811,433   
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     38,817,177   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

     1,515,642   
  

 

 

 

Cash and foreign currency at beginning of the period

       
  

 

 

 

Cash and foreign currency at end of the period

   $ 1,515,642   
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  

Cash paid during the period for interest expense

   $ 94,555   
  

 

 

 

 

* Commencement of operations

 

(1) 

The Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund has not met the exemption criteria under the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and therefore includes a Statement of Cash Flows. All other Funds have met the exemption criteria.

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

64      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


(THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each class of shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

         
    
    
     
    
Net
Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
    Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)*
    Net Realized
and Unrealized
Gain/(Loss) on
Investments
    Total From
Investment
Operations
    Dividends to
Shareholders
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions to
Shareholders
from Net
Realized Gains
    Total
Distributions
    Redemption
Fees*
      
Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II

  

         

Institutional Class

  

               

8/31/14

  $ 19.06      $ 0.15      $ 3.53      $ 3.68      $ (0.09   $      $ (0.09   $ 3   

8/31/13

    15.31        0.09        3.75        3.84        (0.09            (0.09         

8/31/12

    12.92        0.05        2.39        2.44        (0.05            (0.05     3   

8/31/11

    11.02        0.03        1.91        1.94        (0.04            (0.04     3   

8/31/10

    10.49        0.06        0.52        0.58        (0.05            (0.05     3   

Investor Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 18.35      $ 0.09      $ 3.40      $ 3.49      $ (0.05   $      $ (0.05   $ 3   

8/31/13

    14.74        0.05        3.61        3.66        (0.05            (0.05         

8/31/12

    12.44        0.02        2.30        2.32        (0.02            (0.02     3   

8/31/11

    10.62        (— )3      1.84        1.84        (0.02            (0.02     3   

8/31/10

    10.11        0.03        0.50        0.53        (0.02            (0.02     3     
Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund

  

         

Institutional Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 20.94      $ (0.63   $ 3.57      $ 2.94      $      $ (1.24   $ (1.24   $ 0.01     

8/31/13

    20.47        (0.54     2.24        1.70               (1.24     (1.24     0.01     

8/31/12

    19.88        (0.54     3.15        2.61               (2.03     (2.03     0.01     

8/31/11

    17.41        (0.47     4.55        4.08               (1.62     (1.62     0.01     

8/31/10

    15.75        (0.37     1.98        1.61                             0.05     

Investor Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 19.84      $ (0.65   $ 3.37      $ 2.72      $      $ (1.24   $ (1.24   $ 0.01     

8/31/13

    19.51        (0.57     2.13        1.56               (1.24     (1.24     0.01     

8/31/12

    19.08        (0.56     3.01        2.45               (2.03     (2.03     0.01     

8/31/11

    16.80        (0.50     4.39        3.89               (1.62     (1.62     0.01     

8/31/10

    15.31        (0.40     1.84        1.44                             0.05       
Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund

  

         

Institutional Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 13.30      $ (0.12   $ 2.02      $ 1.90      $      $ (0.06   $ (0.06   $ 3   

8/31/13

    11.91        (0.14     1.66        1.52               (0.13     (0.13     3   

8/31/12

    10.60        (0.13     1.53        1.40               (0.09     (0.09     3   

9/30/10** through 8/31/11

    10.00        (0.12     0.71        0.59                             0.01     

Investor Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 13.21      $ (0.15   $ 2.00      $ 1.85      $      $ (0.06   $ (0.06   $ 3   

8/31/13

    11.86        (0.18     1.66        1.48               (0.13     (0.13     3   

8/31/12

    10.58        (0.15     1.52        1.37               (0.09     (0.09     3   

11/29/10** through 8/31/11

    10.40        (0.12     0.29        0.17                             0.01       

 

* Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.
** Inception date.
1 

Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

2 

Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

3 

Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

4 

Portfolio turnover rate excludes securities received from processing a subscription-in-kind.

5 

Annualized.

6 

Not Annualized.

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

66      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

  PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

 

     Net
Asset
Value,
End of
Period
    Total
Investment
Return1,2
    Net
Assets,
End of
Period
(000)
    Ratio of
Expenses to
Average Net
Assets With
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Recoupments
if any
    Ratio of
Expenses to
Average Net
Assets With
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Recoupments
if any (Excluding
Dividend and
Interest Expense)
    Ratio of
Expenses to
Average Net
Assets Without
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Recoupments
if any
    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)
to Average Net
Assets With
Waivers and
Reimbursements
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 
               
               
  $ 22.65        19.33   $ 102,112        1.21 %      N/A        1.23 %      0.68 %      16 % 
    19.06        25.19        76,442        1.29        N/A        1.29        0.53        19   
    15.31        18.98        53,604        1.30         N/A        1.36         0.37         32    
    12.92        17.59        30,172        1.30        N/A        1.37        0.22        38   
    11.02        5.47        25,736        1.30        N/A        1.39        0.51        43   
               
  $ 21.79        19.01   $ 112,417        1.46 %      N/A        1.48 %      0.43 %      16 % 
    18.35        24.90        87,237        1.54        N/A        1.54        0.28        19   
    14.74        18.67        66,689        1.55         N/A        1.61         0.12         32    
    12.44        17.28        70,490        1.55        N/A        1.62        (0.03     38   
      10.62        5.26        61,260        1.55        N/A        1.63        0.25        43   
       
               
  $ 22.65        14.72   $ 676,756        4.33 %      2.42 %      4.33 %      (2.93 )%      65 % 
    20.94        8.61        620,804        4.30         2.43        4.30         (2.58 )      67    
    20.47        14.16        505,108        4.29         2.48         4.29         (2.68 )      71    
    19.88        23.66        344,935        3.70        2.47        3.71        (2.35     103   
    17.41        10.54        164,438        3.40        2.50        3.46        (2.10     81   
               
  $ 21.33        14.41   $ 211,372        4.57 %      2.66 %      4.57 %      (3.18 )%      65 % 
    19.84        8.30        220,307        4.55         2.68        4.55         (2.83 )      67    
    19.51        13.90        170,834        4.54         2.73         4.54         (2.93 )      71    
    19.08        23.37        128,184        3.95        2.72        3.96        (2.60     103   
      16.80        9.73        82,088        3.65        2.75        3.70        (2.35     81   
       
               
  $ 15.14        14.28   $ 5,054,388        2.52 %      1.39 %      2.52 %      (0.81 )%      57 % 
    13.30        12.81        1,743,406        2.75        1.48        2.71        (1.09     65   
    11.91        13.32        254,170        2.81         1.54         2.84         (1.12 )      53 4 
    10.60        6.00        37,237        2.70 5      1.74 5      4.05 5      (1.21 )5      61 6 
               
  $ 15.00        13.99   $ 294,249        2.77 %      1.64 %      2.77 %      (1.06 )%      57 % 
    13.21        12.52        132,511        3.05        1.73        3.01        (1.39     65   
    11.86        13.06        48,296        3.00         1.79         3.04         (1.31 )      53 4 
      10.58        1.73        20,308        2.99 5      1.98 5      4.08 5      (1.47 )5      61 6 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        67   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

  PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for each class of shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

    

Net

Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period

    Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)*
    Net Realized
and Unrealized
Gain/(Loss) on
Investments
    Total From
Investment
Operations
    Dividends to
Shareholders
from Net
Investment
Income
    Distributions to
Shareholders
from Net
Realized Gains
   

Total

Distributions

   

Redemption

Fees*

      
Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund

  

             

Institutional Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 19.19      $ 0.22      $ 4.39      $ 4.61      $ (0.18   $ (0.62   $ (0.80   $     

8/31/13

    15.57        0.24        3.75        3.99        (0.27     (0.10     (0.37         

8/31/12

    14.34        0.20        2.04        2.24        (0.12     (0.89     (1.01         

8/31/11

    12.85        0.15        1.63        1.78        (0.10     (0.19     (0.29         

8/31/10

    12.56        0.10        0.32        0.42        (0.13            (0.13         

Investor Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 19.12      $ 0.17      $ 4.38      $ 4.55      $ (0.15   $ (0.62   $ (0.77   $     

8/31/13

    15.50        0.20        3.75        3.95        (0.23     (0.10     (0.33         

8/31/12

    14.28        0.16        2.03        2.19        (0.08     (0.89     (0.97         

8/31/11

    12.79        0.11        1.63        1.74        (0.06     (0.19     (0.25         

8/31/10

    12.52        0.07        0.31        0.38        (0.11            (0.11           
Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

  

             

Institutional Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 19.06      $ 0.07      $ 3.16      $ 3.23      $ (0.02   $ (1.85   $ (1.87   $     

8/31/13

    14.32        0.07        4.74        4.81        (0.07            (0.07         

8/31/12

    12.31        (0.05     2.06        2.01                             3   

8/31/11

    11.65        (0.06     0.72        0.66                                 

8/31/10

    10.57        (0.05     1.16        1.11        (0.03            (0.03     3     
Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund

  

             

Institutional Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 12.97      $ 0.18      $ 2.82      $ 3.00      $ (0.02   $ (0.36   $ (0.38   $     

8/31/13

    11.00        0.12        2.07        2.19        (0.13     (0.09     (0.22         

12/30/11** through 8/31/12

    10.00        0.10        0.90        1.00                                   
Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund

  

             

Institutional Class

                 

8/31/14

  $ 12.88      $ 0.27      $ 1.98      $ 2.25      $ (0.20   $ (1.39   $ (1.59   $     

8/31/13

    10.79        0.20        2.10        2.30        (0.13     (0.08     (0.21         

12/30/11** through 8/31/12

    10.00        0.15        0.64        0.79                                   
Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund

  

             

Institutional Class

                 

12/31/13** through 8/31/14

  $ 10.00      $ (0.14   $ 0.44      $ 0.30      $      $      $      $ 3   

Investor Class

                 

4/11/14** through 8/31/14

  $ 9.86      $ (0.09   $ 0.52      $ 0.43      $      $      $      $ 3     

 

* Calculated based on average shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.
** Inception date.
1 

Total return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of the period and is not annualized if period is less than one year.

2 

Redemption fees, if any, are reflected in total return calculations.

3 

Amount is less than $0.005.

4 

Annualized.

5 

Not Annualized.

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

68      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (concluded)

  PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

 

     Net
Asset
Value,
End of
Period
    Total
Investment
Return1,2
    Net
Assets,
End of
Period
(000)
    Ratio of
Expenses to
Average Net
Assets With
Waivers and
Reimbursements
    Ratio of
Expenses to
Average Net
Assets With
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Recoupments
if any (Excluding
Dividend and
Interest Expense)
   

Ratio of
Expenses to
Average Net
Assets Without
Waivers and

Reimbursements

    Ratio of Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)
to Average Net
Assets With
Waivers and
Reimbursements
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 
               
               
  $ 23.00        24.52   $ 736,475        0.70 %      N/A        0.94 %      1.05 %      26 % 
    19.19        26.11        441,856        0.70        N/A        0.97        1.37        32   
    15.57        16.73        343,885        0.70         N/A        1.03         1.38         33    
    14.34        13.75        210,113        0.70        N/A        1.03        1.00        47   
    12.85        3.31        112,437        0.80        N/A        1.15        0.75        48   
           
  $ 22.90        24.29   $ 217,590        0.95     N/A        1.20     0.80     26
    19.12        25.93        77,936        0.95        N/A        1.22        1.12        32   
    15.50        16.44        25,189        0.95         N/A        1.28         1.13         33    
    14.28        13.55        26,436        0.95        N/A        1.28        0.75        47   
      12.79        3.01        13,016        1.03        N/A        1.39        0.55        48   
               
               
  $ 20.42        17.46   $ 46,008        1.36     N/A        1.42     0.35     75
    19.06        33.71        40,754        1.54        N/A        1.54        0.41        72   
    14.32        16.33        37,367        1.70         N/A        1.70         (0.34 )      84    
    12.31        5.67        33,238        1.67        N/A        1.72        (0.43     85   
      11.65        10.54        32,394        1.69        N/A        1.77        (0.39     94   
               
               
  $ 15.59        23.39   $ 60,087        0.96     N/A        1.39     1.20     136
    12.97        20.14        11,496        1.30        N/A        3.05        1.00        102   
      11.00        10.00 5      11,234        1.30 4      N/A        3.56 4      1.39 4      83 5 
               
               
  $ 13.54        18.18   $ 13,992        0.98     N/A        2.84     1.99     67
    12.88        21.52        11,104        1.30        N/A        3.18        1.63        87   
      10.79        7.90 5      10,895        1.30 4      N/A        3.77 4      2.16 4      81 5 
               
               
  $ 10.30        3.00   $ 37,403        3.88 %4      2.00 %4      4.89 %4      (2.04 )%4      72 %5 
               
    $ 10.29        4.36   $ 2,841        4.12 %4      2.25 %4      4.44 %4      (2.28 )%4      72 %5 

 

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        69   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series trust,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II (“BP Small Cap Value Fund II”), Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (“BP Long/Short Equity Fund”), Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund (“BP Long/Short Research Fund”), Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund (“BP All-Cap Value Fund”), Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund (“BP Global Equity Fund”), Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund (“BP International Equity Fund”), Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund (“BP Global Long/Short Fund”) (collectively “BP Funds”), and Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund (“WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund” and, collectively with the BP Funds, the “Funds”). As of August 31, 2014, the BP Funds each offer two classes of shares, Institutional Class and Investor Class. As of August 31, 2014, Investor Class shares of the BP Global Equity Fund and BP International Equity Fund have not been issued. The WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund is a single class fund, offering only the Institutional Class of shares.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

Portfolio Valuation — Each Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by a Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service, which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings, and are deemed representative of market values at the close of the market. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. Foreign securities are valued based on prices from the primary market in which they are traded, and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of the investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as disclosed in their prospectuses). Options for which the primary market is a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are traded, or, in the absence of any sale, will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Options not traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last quoted bid price for long option positions and the closing ask price for short option positions. If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments. Such procedures use fundamental valuation methods, which may include, but are not limited to, an analysis of the effect of any restrictions on the resale of the security, industry analysis and trends, significant changes in the issuer’s financial position, and any other event which could have a significant impact on the value of the security. Determination of fair value involves subjective judgment as the actual market value of a particular security can be established only by negotiations between the parties in a sales transaction, and the difference between the recorded fair value and the value that would be received in a sale could be significant. The Funds may use fair value pricing more frequently for securities traded primarily in non-U.S. markets because, among other things, most foreign markets close well before the Funds value their securities, generally as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, government actions or pronouncements, aftermarket trading, or news events may have occurred in the interim. To account for this, the Funds may value foreign securities using fair value prices based on third-party vendor modeling tools (international fair value pricing).

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

Fair Value Measurements — The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Funds’ investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

• Level 1 —    quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;
• Level 2 —    other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and
• Level 3 —    significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

A summary of the inputs used to value each Fund’s investments as of August 31, 2014 is included in each Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Funds’ investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Funds may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

Foreign securities that utilize international fair pricing are categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. For the BP Global Equity Fund, a security with an end of period value of $959,996 transferred from Level 1 into Level 2. This transfer occurred as a result of this security being valued utilizing the international fair value pricing at August 31, 2014.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

Investment Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses — The Funds record security transactions based on trade date for financial report purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The Funds’ investment income, expenses (other than class specific distribution fees) and unrealized and realized gains and losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family (in proportion to net assets). Expenses incurred for all of the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Funds.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on ex-dividend date for all Funds. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. Tax Status — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is each Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Funds consider liquid assets deposited into a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

Other — In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Funds in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

Foreign Currency Translation — Assets and liabilities initially expressed in non-U.S. currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the applicable exchange rates at the date of the last business day of the financial statement period. Purchases and sales of securities, interest income, dividends, variation margin received and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the transaction date.

The Funds do not separately report the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices of securities held. Such changes are included with the net realized gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investment securities in the Statement of Operations. Other foreign currency transactions resulting in realized and unrealized gain or loss are reported separately as net realized gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

Currency Risk — The Funds invest in securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts. These markets are subject to special risks associated with foreign investments not typically associated with investing in U.S. markets. Because the foreign securities in which the Funds may invest generally trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in currency exchange rates will affect the Funds’ NAV, the value of dividends and interest earned and gains and losses realized on the sale of securities. Because the NAV for the Funds are determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, the Funds may lose money by investing in a foreign security if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the local currency value of the Funds’ holdings goes up. Generally, a strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds’ holdings in foreign securities.

Foreign Securities Market Risk — Securities of many non-U.S. companies may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Securities of companies traded in many countries outside the U.S., particularly emerging markets countries, may be subject to further risks due to the inexperience of local investment professionals and financial institutions, the possibility of permanent or temporary termination of trading and greater spreads between bid and asked prices of securities. In addition, non-U.S. stock exchanges and investment professionals are subject to less governmental regulation, and commissions may be higher than in the United States. Also, there may be delays in the settlement of non-U.S. stock exchange transactions.

Options Written — The Funds are subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing their investment objectives and may enter into options written to hedge against changes in the value of equities. Such options may relate to particular securities or domestic stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic securities exchange or issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. An option contract is a commitment that gives the purchaser of the contract the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. On the other hand, the writer of an option contract is obligated, upon the exercise of the option, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing put options is limited to the exercised fair value of the option contract. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing call options is potentially

 

72      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

unlimited. A Fund also has the additional risk of being unable to enter into a closing transaction at an acceptable price if a liquid secondary market does not exist. A Fund also may write over-the-counter options where completing the obligation depends upon the credit standing of the other party. Option contracts also involve the risk that they may result in loss due to unanticipated developments in market conditions or other causes.

Written options are initially recorded as liabilities to the extent of premiums received and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. Gains or losses are realized when the option transaction expires or closes. When an option is exercised, the proceeds on sales for a written call option or the purchase cost for a written put option is adjusted by the amount of the premium received. Listed option contracts present minimal counterparty credit risk since they are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded options, guarantees the options against default. A Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk related to OTC option contracts is limited to the premium paid. As of August 31, 2014, all of each Fund’s written options were exchange-traded options.

The BP Long/Short Equity Fund, BP Long/Short Research Fund and the BP All-Cap Value Fund had transactions in options written during the year ended August 31, 2014 as follows:

 

     BP Long/Short Equity Fund     BP Long/Short Research Fund     BP All-Cap Value Fund  
     Number of
Contracts
    Premiums
Received
    Number of
Contracts
    Premiums
Received
    Number of
Contracts
    Premiums
Received
 

Options outstanding at August 31, 2013

     1,996      $ 2,046,646        5,383      $ 2,971,577        849      $ 143,481   

Options written

     1,685        1,526,710        14,673        7,352,336        2,123        743,607   

Options closed

     (1,089     (2,248,984     (4,004     (2,198,368     (849     (143,481

Options expired

     (2,030     (810,352     (300     (95,643              

Options exercised

     (207     (187,430     (10,374     (4,868,165              
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options outstanding at August 31, 2014

     355      $ 326,590        5,378      $ 3,161,737        2,123      $ 743,607   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the average volume of derivatives is as follows:

 

Fund

     Purchased
Options
(Cost)
       Written
Options
(Proceeds)
 

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

     $ 599,207         $ 1,333,684   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

                 2,370,382   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

                 397,307   

Short Sales — When the investment adviser believes that a security is overvalued, the BP Long/Short Equity Fund, the BP Long/Short Research Fund and the BP Global Long/Short Fund may sell the security short by borrowing the same security from a broker or other institution and selling the security. A Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the borrowed security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund buys and replaces such borrowed security. A Fund will realize a gain if there is a decline in price of the security between those dates where the decline in price exceeds the costs of borrowing the security and other transaction costs. There can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to close out a short position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although a Fund’s gain is limited to the amount at which it sold a security short, its potential loss is unlimited. Until a Fund replaces a borrowed security, it will maintain at all times cash, U.S. Government securities, or other liquid securities in an amount which, when added to any amount deposited with a broker as collateral, will at least equal the current market value of the security sold short. Depending on arrangements made with brokers, a Fund may not receive any payments (including interest) on collateral deposited with them.

In accordance with the terms of its prime brokerage agreements, a Fund may receive rebate income or be charged a fee on borrowed securities. Such income or fee is calculated on a daily basis based upon the market value of each borrowed security and a variable rate that is dependent upon the availability of such security. The Funds record these prime broker charges on a net basis as interest income or interest expense. For the year ended August 31, 2014, the BP Long/Short Equity Fund, the BP Long/Short Research Fund and the BP Global Long/Short Fund had net charges of $13,458,257, $9,499,633 and $81,882, respectively, on borrowed securities. Such amounts are included in prime broker interest expense on the statement of operations.

As of August 31, 2014, the BP Long/Short Equity Fund, the BP Long/Short Research Fund and the BP Global Long/Short Fund had securities sold short valued at $532,618,566, $2,494,330,684 and $19,097,186, respectively, for which securities of

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        73   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

$477,371,553, $2,331,150,907 and $18,755,018 and cash deposits of $514,538,316, $2,492,424,063 and $19,119,428, respectively, were pledged as collateral.

In accordance with Special Custody and Pledge Agreements with Goldman Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”) (the Funds’ prime broker), the BP Long/Short Equity Fund, the BP Long/Short Research Fund and the BP Global Long/Short Fund may borrow from Goldman Sachs to the extent necessary to maintain required margin cash deposits on short positions. Interest on such borrowings is charged to the Fund based on the LIBOR rate plus an agreed upon spread.

The BP Long/Short Equity Fund, the BP Long/Short Research Fund and BP Global Long/Short Fund utilized cash borrowings from Goldman Sachs to meet required margin cash deposits as follows during the year ended August 31, 2014:

 

BP Long/Short Equity Fund   BP Long/Short Research Fund   BP Global Long/Short Fund
Days
Utilized
  Average Daily
Borrowings
  Weighted Average
Interest Rate
  Days
Utilized
  Average Daily
Borrowings
  Weighted Average
Interest Rate
  Days
Utilized
  Average Daily
Borrowings
  Weighted Average
Interest Rate
305       CAD 1,178,953         1.45 %       185        
AUD 8,507,295
 
      2.94 %       217         AUD 65,891         2.94 %
251       EUR 2,491,148         0.57 %       82        
CAD 4,759,997
 
      1.43 %       216         CAD 93,100         1.44 %
205      
ILS 41
 
      1.18 %       7        
EUR 49,323
 
      0.64 %       227         CHF 190,891         0.44 %
365      
USD 59,143,225
 
      0.53 %       47        
GBP 1,151,887
 
      0.88 %       230         DKK 260,040         0.51 %
              1        
HKD 88,642
 
      0.52 %       229         EUR 860,816         0.53 %
              34        
JPY 183,476,181
 
      0.55 %       237         GBP 277,921         0.88 %
              285        
NOK 1,053,150
 
      1.95 %       238         HKD 2,055,561         0.50 %
              365        
USD 240,041,605
 
      0.53 %       227         JPY 45,719,758         0.52 %
                          8         NOK 468         1.93 %
                          194         NZD 112,786         3.72 %
                          227         SEK 970,317         1.01 %
                          236         THB 3,509,088         2.35 %
                          7         USD 209,456         0.55 %

As of August 31, 2014, the BP Long/Short Equity Fund, the BP Long/Short Research Fund and BP Global Long/Short Fund had borrowings of $61,637,316, $171,577,608 and $5,744, respectively. Such amounts are included in due to prime broker on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Interest expenses for the year ended August 31, 2014, totaled $343,495, $1,418,607 and $16,016, respectively.

Contracts for Difference — The BP Global Long/Short Fund and BP Long/Short Research Fund (for this section only, each a “Fund”) may enter into Contracts for Differences (“CFDs”). CFDs are leveraged derivative instruments that allow a Fund to take a position on the change in the market price of an underlying asset, such as a stock, or the value of an index or currency exchange rate. With a short CFD, a Fund is seeking to profit from falls in the market price of the asset. CFDs are subject to liquidity risk because the liquidity of CFDs is based on the liquidity of the underlying instrument, and are subject to counterparty risk, i.e., the risk that the counterparty to the CFD transaction may be unable or unwilling to make payments or to otherwise honor its financial obligations under the terms of the contract. It is also possible that the market price of the CFD will move between the time the order is placed by a Fund and when it is executed by the issuer, which can result in the trade being executed at a less favorable price. CFDs, like many other derivative instruments, involve the risk that, if the derivative security declines in value, additional margin would be required to maintain the margin level. The seller may require a Fund to deposit additional sums to cover this decline in value, and the margin call may be at short notice. If additional margin is not provided in time, the seller may liquidate the positions at a loss for which a Fund is liable. The potential for margin calls and large losses are much greater in CFDs than in other leveraged products. Most CFDs are traded over-the-counter. CFDs are not registered with the SEC or any U.S. regulator, and are not subject to U.S. regulation. In a short position, the Fund will receive or pay an amount based upon the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the CFD would have decreased or increased in value had it sold the particular stocks short, less the dividends that would have been paid on those stocks, plus a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the CFD. All of these components are reflected in the market value of the CFD.

CFDs are marked-to-market daily based upon quotations from market makers and the resulting changes in market values, if any, are recorded as an unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. Periodic payments made or received are recorded as realized gains or losses. Entering into CFDs involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these contracts, that the counterparty to the contract may default on its obligation to perform and that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions. CFDs outstanding at period end, if any, are listed on the

 

74      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

Schedule of Investments. In connection with CFDs, cash or securities may be segregated as collateral by the Funds’ custodian. As of August 31, 2014, the BP Global Long/Short Fund held CFDs.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the average volume of Contracts for Difference is as follows:

 

Fund

     Notional Amount  

BP Global Long/Short Fund

     $ 155,582   

 

2. Transactions with Investment Advisers and Other Services

Robeco Investment Management, Inc. (“Robeco”) provides investment advisory services to the BP Funds and the WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund. For its advisory services with respect to the BP Funds, Robeco is entitled to receive 1.00% of the BP Small Cap Value Fund II’s average daily net assets, 2.25% of the BP Long/Short Equity Fund’s average daily net assets, 1.25% of the BP Long/Short Research Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.80% of the BP All-Cap Value Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.90% of BP Global Equity Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.90% of BP International Equity Fund’s average daily net assets and 1.50% of BP Global Long/Short Fund’s average daily net assets, each accrued daily and payable monthly.

Until December 31, 2014, Robeco has contractually agreed to limit the BP Long/Short Equity Fund and BP All-Cap Value Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to the extent that such expenses exceed the ratios in the table below. This limit is calculated daily based on the BP Long/Short Equity Fund and BP All-Cap Value Fund’s average daily net assets. These limitations are effected in waivers of advisory fees and reimbursements of expenses exceeding the advisory fee as necessary. These contractual limitations are in effect until at least December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. Robeco may not recoup any of its waived investment advisory fees with respect to these Funds.

 

       Institutional        Investor  

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       2.50        2.75

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       0.70        0.95

For BP Small Cap Value Fund II, from September 1, 2013 through May 27, 2014, Robeco had contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceeds 1.30% and 1.55%, of the average daily net assets attributable to the Funds’ Institutional Class shares and Investor Class shares, respectively. Effective May 28, 2014, Robeco has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceeds 1.10% and 1.35%, of the average daily net assets attributable to the Funds’ Institutional Class shares and Investor Class shares, respectively. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Board of Directors. If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 in which the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with Robeco is in effect, the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10% for the Institutional Class and 1.35% for the Investor Class, Robeco is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees foregone and other payments remitted by Robeco to the Fund during such three-year period.

For the BP Long/Short Research Fund and BP Global Long/Short Fund, Robeco has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceeds 1.50% and 2.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets attributable to the Funds’ Institutional Class shares and 1.75% and 2.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets attributable to the Funds’ Investor Class. This contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time during the first three years the Funds’ Advisory Agreement with Robeco is in effect, the Funds’ Total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.50% for the Institutional Class and 1.75% for the Investor Class of the BP Long/Short Research Fund or 2.00% for the Institutional Class and 2.25% for the Investor Class of the BP Global Long/Short Fund, Robeco is entitled to reimbursement by the Funds of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by Robeco to the Funds during such three-year period.

From September 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013, for the BP Global Equity Fund and BP International Equity Fund, Robeco had contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which each Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceeds 1.30% of the average daily net assets attributable to each Fund’s Institutional Class shares and 1.55% of the

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        75   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

average daily net assets attributable to each Fund’s Investor Class. Effective October 1, 2013, Robeco has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which each Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceeds 0.95% of the average daily net assets attributable to each Fund’s Institutional Class shares and 1.20% of the average daily net assets attributable to each Fund’s Investor Class. This contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time during the first three years each Fund’s Advisory Agreement with Robeco is in effect, each Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 0.95% for the Institutional Class and 1.20% for the Investor Class, Robeco is entitled to reimbursement by each Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by Robeco to each Fund during such three-year period.

At August 31, 2014, the amount of potential recoupment by the Adviser was as follows:

 

       Expiration
August 31, 2015
       Expiration
August 31, 2016
       Expiration
August 31, 2017
       Total  

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

     $         $         $ 41,219         $ 41,219   

BP Global Equity Fund

       133,820           202,243           217,404           553,467   

BP International Equity Fund

       144,610           213,420           245,065           603,095   

BP Global Long/Short Fund

                           87,459           87,459   

For its advisory services with respect to the WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, for the period September 1, 2013 through May 27, 2014, Robeco was entitled to receive advisory fees, accrued daily and paid monthly, as follows:

 

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund    0.90% of net assets up to $300 million
   0.80% of net assets $300 million to $500 million
   0.75% of net assets in excess of $500 million

Effective May 28, 2014, Robeco is entitled to receive advisory fees, accrued daily and paid monthly, as follows:

 

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund    0.80% of net assets up to $500 million
   0.75% of net assets in excess of $500 million

From September 1, 2013 through May 27, 2014, Robeco had contractually agreed to limit the WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.70%. Effective May 28, 2014, Robeco contractually agreed to limit the WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) to 1.10%. The contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2016 and may not be terminated without approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time during the three years from May 28, 2014 to May 28, 2017 in which the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with Robeco is in effect, the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 1.10%, Robeco is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees waived and other payments remitted by Robeco to the Fund during such three-year period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, Robeco has waived and reimbursed fees as follows:

 

Funds

     Investment Adviser
Expense Waived
       Investment Adviser
Reimbursement
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

     $ 41,219         $   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

                   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

                   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       1,880,600             

BP WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       27,146             

BP Global Equity Fund

       217,404             

BP International Equity Fund

       118,124           126,941   

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       87,459             

In determining Robeco’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account and could cause a Fund’s net annualized expense ratio to exceed the applicable expense limitation: acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), serves as administrator for the Funds. For providing administration and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of each Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administrative services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation

 

76      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company. For the BP Global Long/Short Fund, BNY accrued administration and accounting fees totaling $52,562 and waived fees totaling $15,901 for the period ended August 31, 2014.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Funds’ transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agency services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimum and out of pocket expenses. For the BP Global Long/Short Fund, BNY accrued transfer agent fees totaling $44,278 and waived transfer agent fees totaling $7,779 for the period ended August 31, 2014.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Funds. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimum monthly and out of pocket expenses. For the BP Global Long/Short Fund, the Custodian accrued custody fees totaling $19,432 and waived custodian fees totaling $2,445 for the period ended August 31, 2014.

The Board of Directors of the Company has approved a Distribution Agreement for the Funds and adopted separate Plans of Distribution for the Investor Class of each BP Fund (the “Plans”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Plans, Foreside Funds Distributors LLC (the “Underwriter”) is entitled to receive from each Fund a distribution fee with respect to the Investor Class, which is accrued daily and paid monthly, of up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class. Amounts paid to the Distributor under the Plans may be used by the Distributor to cover expenses that are related to (i) the sale of the Investor Class Shares, (ii) ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of the accounts of shareholders, and (iii) sub-transfer agency services, subaccounting services or administrative services related to the sale of the Investor Class, all as set forth in the Plans.

 

3. Directors/Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors by the Funds during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $215,035. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Funds or the Company.

 

4. Investment in Securities

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. government obligations) were as follows:

 

Fund

     Purchases        Sales  

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

     $ 45,135,200         $ 31,230,217   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       539,442,009           653,668,807   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

       4,724,723,239           2,004,795,712   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       475,846,792           191,401,863   

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       32,249,564           33,287,501   

BP Global Equity Fund

       108,583,442           67,801,874   

BP International Equity Fund

       9,108,198           8,224,417   

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       48,747,947           11,490,493   

 

5. Capital Share Transactions

As of August 31, 2014, each class of each Fund has 100,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value common stock authorized except for the Institutional Class of the BP Long/Short Research Fund and the WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, which has 500,000,000 shares and 50,000,000 shares, respectively, of $0.001 par value common stock authorized.

 

6. Securities Lending

Securities may be loaned to financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, and are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents, letter of credit or U.S. Government securities maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral received, pursuant to investment guidelines established by the Funds and approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, is invested in short-term investments. All such investments are made at the risk of the Funds and, as such, the Funds are liable for investment losses. Such loans would involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed by Robeco to be of good standing and only when, in Robeco’s judgment, the income to be earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. Any loans of a Fund’s securities will be fully collateralized and marked to market daily. During the year ended August 31, 2014, the Funds

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        77   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

participated in securities lending. The market value of securities on loan and collateral as of August 31, 2014 and the income generated from the program during the year ended August 31, 2014 with respect to such loans are as follows:

 

Fund

     Market Value
of Securities
Loaned
       Market Value
of Collateral
       Income Received
from Securities
Lending
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

     $ 9,344,938         $ 9,407,600         $ 220,446   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       31,085,197           31,865,745           339,991   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       4,978,256           5,021,034           24,789   

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       5,656,829           5,806,836           67,066   

Securities lending transactions are entered into by the Funds under a Master Securities Lending Agreement (“MSLA”) which permits the Funds, under certain circumstances including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset amounts payable by the Funds to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and create one single net payment due to or from the Funds. The following table is a summary of the Funds’ open securities lending transactions which are subject to a MSLA as of August 31, 2014:

 

                          Gross Amount Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 

Fund

   Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets
     Gross  Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
     Net Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
     Financial

Instruments
     Cash

Collateral

Received1
    Net

Amount
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

   $ 9,344,938       $       $ 9,344,938       $       $ (9,344,938   $   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

     31,085,197                 31,085,197                 (31,085,197       

BP All-Cap Value Fund

     4,978,256                 4,978,256                 (4,978,256       

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

     5,295,630                 5,295,630                 (5,295,630       

 

1 

Amount disclosed is limited to the amount of assets presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Actual collateral received may be more than the amount shown.

 

7. Restricted Securities

A restricted security is a security which has been purchased through a private offering and cannot be resold to the general public without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) or pursuant to the resale limitations provided by Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Certain restricted securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers, and may be deemed liquid by Robeco as applicable, based on policies and procedures established by the Company’s Board of Directors. Therefore, not all restricted securities are considered illiquid.

At August 31, 2014, the following Fund held restricted securities that were illiquid:

 

       Acquisition Date      Acquisition
Cost
       Shares        Value        % of
Net Assets
 

BP All-Cap Value Fund

                        
Common Stocks:                         

FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class A 144A

     11/04/09-08/06/10      $ 1,045,741           50,936         $ 933,657           0.1   

FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class B 144A

     11/04/09-08/06/10        261,435           12,734           233,414           0.0   

Peoples Choice Financial Corp. 144A

     12/21/04-01/23/06        14,293           1,465                     0.0   

Solar Cayman Ltd. 144A

     03/24/10                  19,375                     0.0   
         

 

 

           

 

 

      

 

 

 
          $ 1,321,469              $ 1,167,071           0.1
         

 

 

           

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

8. Redemption Fees

There is a 1.00% redemption fee on shares redeemed which have been held 60 days or less on BP Small Cap Value Fund II, BP Long/Short Research Fund, BP Global Equity Fund, BP International Equity Fund and BP Global Long/Short Fund. There is a 2.00% redemption fee on shares redeemed which have been held 365 days or less on the BP Long/Short Equity Fund. The WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund has a 2.00% redemption fee on shares redeemed within 60 days of purchase. The redemption fees are retained by the Funds for the benefit of the remaining shareholders and recorded as paid-in capital.

 

9. Federal Income Tax Information

The Funds have followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Funds to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Funds

 

78      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

have determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Funds are subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, federal tax cost and aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by each Fund were as follows:

 

Fund

     Federal Tax
Cost
       Unrealized
Appreciation
       Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

     $ 152,544,069         $ 67,646,083         $ (4,229,321    $ 63,416,762   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       742,653,952           225,848,546           (53,173,116      172,675,430   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

       4,522,595,217           900,951,428           (262,576,868      638,374,560   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       723,998,883           215,842,949           (4,934,447      210,908,502   

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       41,948,887           9,711,314           (1,789,603      7,921,711   

BP Global Equity Fund

       52,971,428           6,697,355           (902,909      5,794,446   

BP International Equity Fund

       11,211,544           2,165,504           (179,735      1,985,769   

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       37,382,971           2,709,587           (1,639,957      1,069,630   

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, were reclassified among the following accounts. They are primarily attributable to net investment loss, gains and losses on foreign currency transactions, tax reclassification of distributions received, capitalization of short sale dividends and investments in partnerships and passive foreign investment companies.

 

Fund

   Increase/
(Decrease)
Undistributed
Net  Investment
Income/(Loss)
    Increase/
(Decrease)
Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Investments
    Increase/
(Decrease)
Additional
Paid-in  Capital
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

   $ 8,638      $ (8,638   $   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

     8,241,745        (678,978     (7,562,767

BP Long/Short Research Fund

     11,287,938        4,408,047        (15,695,985

BP All-Cap Value Fund

     (18,622     18,622          

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

     185,413        (185,413       

BP Global Equity Fund

     (73,239     73,239          

BP International Equity Fund

     (11,929     11,929          

BP Global Long/Short Fund

     232,277        54,534        (286,811

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Fund

   Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term
Gains
     Capital Loss
Carryforwards
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Qualified
Late-year
Loss

Deferral
    Other
Temporary
Differences
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

   $ 517,650       $ 1,447,207       $      $ 63,416,762       $      $   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

             54,313,379         (843,234     106,529,791         (17,692,302       

BP Long/Short Research Fund

             34,894,577                516,767,966         (27,989,440       

BP All-Cap Value Fund

     15,443,775         22,304,230                210,855,869                  

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

     2,710,470         1,593,933                7,921,711                  

BP Global Equity Fund

     1,899,488         1,065,409                5,793,235                  

BP International Equity Fund

     465,990         1,067,280                1,985,479                  

BP Global Long/Short Fund

                     (161,107     1,435,979                  

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        79   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

 

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the two fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

     2014      2013  

Fund

   Ordinary
Income
     Long-Term
Gains
     Total      Ordinary
Income
     Long-Term
Gains
     Total  

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

   $ 583,139       $       $ 583,139       $ 570,374       $       $ 570,374   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

     2,623,279         47,534,301         50,157,580         28,628,366         14,464,132         43,092,498   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

             10,836,209         10,836,209         4,279,421         2         4,279,423   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

     12,757,029         12,457,916         25,214,945         6,966,356         938,727         7,905,083   

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

     50,358         3,952,860         4,003,218         177,056                 177,056   

BP Global Equity Fund

     1,079,874         423,661         1,503,535         221,270                 221,270   

BP International Equity Fund

     975,958         433,658         1,409,616         209,689                 209,689   

BP Global Long/Short Fund

                          

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

Pursuant to federal income tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies, the Funds may elect to treat certain capital losses between November 1 and August 31 and late year ordinary losses ((i) ordinary losses between January 1 and August 31, and (ii) specified ordinary and currency losses between November 1 and August 31) as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the year ended August 31, 2014, any amount of losses elected within the tax return will not be recognized for federal income tax purposes until September 1, 2014.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the following Funds deferred to September 1, 2014, the following qualified late-year losses:

 

Fund

   Late-Year Ordinary
Loss Deferral
     Short-Term Capital
Loss Deferral
     Long-Term Capital
Loss Deferral
 

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

   $ 17,692,302       $       $   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

     27,989,440                   

Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carryforwards as of August 31, 2014 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future capital gains distributions. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law.

As of August 31, 2014, the Funds had the following pre-enactment net capital loss carryforwards to offset future net capital gains, if any, to the extent provided by Treasury regulations. To the extent that these carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the gains that are offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

Fund

     August 31, 2016        August 31, 2017        August 31, 2018        Total  

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

     $ 843,234         $         $         $ 843,234   

As of August 31, 2014, the BP Global Long/Short Fund had post-enactment capital loss carryforwards of $161,107, all of which are short-term losses and have an unlimited period of capital loss carryforward.

Due to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder, the capital losses from the BP Long/Short Equity Fund that were acquired in its reorganization with the WPG 130/30 Large Cap Core Fund on April 17, 2009, could not be fully used against its current year capital gains. The remaining loss of $843,234 is carried forward and $421,617 can be utilized annually against the BP Long/Short Equity Fund’s realized capital gains through August 31, 2016.

 

 

80      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (concluded)

 

 

During the year ended August 31, 2014, the BP Small Cap Value Fund II and the BP Long/Short Equity Fund utilized $10,128,234 and $421,617, respectively, of prior year capital loss carryforwards.

 

10. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there was the following subsequent event:

Approval of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Report of Special Meeting of Shareholders

At a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on September 17, 2014, a proposal to approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between The RBB Fund, Inc. on behalf of Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund (the “Robeco Fund”) and John Hancock Disciplined Value International Fund, a new series of John Hancock Investment Trust (the “Acquiring Fund”) was approved by the shareholders of the Robeco Fund.

Under the agreement, the Robeco Fund transferred all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for corresponding shares of the Acquiring Fund to be distributed pro rata to shareholders of the Robeco Fund, in redemption of, and in exchange for the shares of the Robeco Fund.

The reorganization occurred as of the close of business on September 26, 2014.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        81   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, of Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund (eight of the portfolios constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) (the “Funds”) as of August 31, 2014, and the related statements of operations, the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein. We have also audited the statement of cash flows of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund for the period December 31, 2013 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate procedures where replies from brokers were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund and Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund (eight of the portfolios constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) at August 31, 2014, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets and their financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, and the statement of cash flows of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Long/Short Fund for the period December 31, 2013 (commencement of operations) through August 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 29, 2014

 

82      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

SHAREHOLDER TAX INFORMATION (unaudited)

 

 

Certain tax information regarding each Fund is required to be provided to shareholders based upon each Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ending December 31, 2014. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the following dividends and distributions were paid by each of the Funds:

 

       Ordinary
Income
       Long-Term
Capital Gains
 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

     $ 583,139         $   

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       2,623,279           47,534,301   

BP Long/Short Research Fund

                 10,836,209   

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       12,757,029           12,457,916   

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       50,358           3,952,860   

BP Global Equity Fund

       1,079,874           423,661   

BP International Equity Fund

       975,958           433,658   

BP Global Long/Short Fund

                   

Distributions from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

Under the Jobs and Growth Tax relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 the following percentages of ordinary dividends paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 are designated as “qualified dividend income,” as defined in the Act, and are subject to reduced tax rates:

 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

       100.00

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       100.00

BP Long/Short Research Fund

       0.00

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       61.39

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       29.28

BP Global Equity Fund

       23.71

BP International Equity Fund

       33.15

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       0.00

The percentage of total ordinary income dividends paid qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction for each Fund is as follows:

 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

       100.00

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       0.00

BP Long/Short Research Fund

       0.00

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       53.23

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       30.49

BP Global Equity Fund

       8.74

BP International Equity Fund

       0.00

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       0.00

The percentage of qualified interest income related dividends not subject to withholding tax for non-resident aliens and foreign corporations is as follows:

 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

       0.02

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       0.00

BP Long/Short Research Fund

       0.00

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       0.03

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       0.04

BP Global Equity Fund

       0.02

BP International Equity Fund

       0.02

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       0.00

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        83   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

SHAREHOLDER TAX INFORMATION (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

The percentage of ordinary income distributions designated as qualified short-term gains pursuant to the American Job Creation Act of 2004 is as follows:

 

BP Small Cap Value Fund II

       0.00

BP Long/Short Equity Fund

       100.00

BP Long/Short Research Fund

       0.00

BP All-Cap Value Fund

       100.00

WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund

       0.00

BP Global Equity Fund

       100.00

BP International Equity Fund

       100.00

BP Global Long/Short Fund

       0.00

Because each Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

The Funds paid foreign taxes and recognized foreign source income as follows:

 

       Foreign Taxes
Paid
       Foreign Source
Income
 

BP International Equity Fund

     $ 21,748         $ 410,363   

In general, dividends received by tax exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Funds.

 

84      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

OTHER INFORMATION (unaudited)

 

 

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 261-4073 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule

The Company files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Shareholder Meeting Results

The following are the results of the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund (the “Robeco Fund”) referred to in Note 10 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

As of the close of business on July 15, 2014, the record date for shareholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, there were 1,010,006.473 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. The result of the voting of shares of the Robeco Fund with respect to the proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between the Company, on behalf of the Robeco Fund, and the Acquiring Fund was as follows:

 

VOTED FOR

     1,010,006.473   

VOTED AGAINST

     0   

ABSTAINED

     0   

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

At a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”), the Board of Directors, including all of the Independent Directors, considered the approval of (1) the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreements and (2) Addendum No. 2 to the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Addendum”) reducing the advisory fee from 0.90% to 0.80% for the Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Fund. The Board’s decision to approve the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreements and to approve the Addendum reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement with Robeco. In approving the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreements and in approving the Addendum, the Board considered information provided by Robeco with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Investment Advisory Agreements between the Company and Robeco, with respect to the Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II, Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund, Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund and the Addendum for the Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Fund (collectively, the “Funds”), the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of Robeco’s services provided to the Funds; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of Robeco’s personnel providing those services; (iii) Robeco’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) Robeco’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) Robeco’s soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) Robeco’s current advisory fee arrangements with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) Robeco’s compliance procedures; (viii) Robeco’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Funds; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Funds; (x) report prepared by Lipper comparing each

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        85   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

OTHER INFORMATION (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those each Fund’s respective Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of each Fund to the performance of each Fund’s respective Lipper peer group; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of each Fund to the performance of its benchmark.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Robeco. The Directors concluded that Robeco had substantial resources to provide services to the Funds and that Robeco’s services had been acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Funds. Information on the Funds’ investment performance was provided for one-, three-, and five-year periods ended March 31, 2014, as applicable. The Directors considered the Funds’ investment performance in light of their investment objectives and investment strategies. The Directors concluded that the investment performance of each of the Funds as compared to their respective benchmarks and Lipper peer groups was acceptable.

In reaching this conclusion, the Directors noted that the Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund outperformed its primary benchmark for the one-, three- and five-year periods as well as since inception. The Directors also noted that the Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund ranked in the 2nd quintile in its Lipper performance group for the one-year period ended February 28, 2014 and the 1st quintile in the Lipper performance universe for the same period.

The Directors noted that the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund underperformed its primary benchmark for the one- and three-year periods ended March 31, 2014, however, it outperformed its primary index for the five-year period ended March 31, 2014. The Directors noted that the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Equity Fund’s performance ranked within the 1st quintile within its Lipper performance group for the four-year period ended February 28, 2014 and in the 1st quintile within its Lipper performance universe for the five-year period ended February 28, 2014.

The Directors noted that while the performance of the Robeco WPG Small/Micro Cap Value Fund was below the performance of its primary benchmark since inception, it had outperformed the benchmark for the previous one-, three- and five-year periods ended March 31, 2014.

The Directors noted that Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund had underperformed its benchmark for the one- and three-year periods ended March 31, 2014, but outperformed its benchmark since inception. The Directors also noted that the Robeco Boston Partners Long/Short Research Fund ranked within the 1st quintile for the one-, two- and three-year periods ended February 28, 2014 in its Lipper performance group. Finally, the Board noted that the Fund ranked in the 2nd quintile for the one- and two-year periods and 1st quintile for the three-year period ended February 28, 2014 in its Lipper performance universe.

The Directors discussed the underperformance of the Robeco Boston Partners Small Cap Value Fund II as compared to its benchmark for the since inception period ending March 31, 2014, but recognized its outperformance as compared to the benchmark for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended March 31, 2014 as well as its ranking in the 2nd quintile for the one-year period and 1st quartile for the three-year period ended February 28, 2014 as compared to its Lipper performance group.

The Directors reviewed the performance of the Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, which outperformed its benchmark for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended March 31, 2014 and since inception. They noted that for the one- and two-year periods ended February 28, 2014, the Fund ranked in the 2nd quintile and 1st quintile, respectively, in its Lipper performance group. They noted that Fund ranked in the 1st quintile for the one- and two-year periods ended February 28, 2014 in its Lipper performance universe. Similarly, the performance of the Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund was considered, with the Directors noting the Fund’s outperformance as compared to its benchmark for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended March 31, 2014 as well as since its inception. They also noted that the Fund ranked in the 1st quintile, 2nd out of 10, in both its Lipper performance group for the one- and two-year periods ended February 28, 2014.

The Directors considered the advisory fee rates payable by the Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreements and the Addendum. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Funds and the Funds’ total operating expense ratios (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. After reviewing the comparable fee information provided in the Lipper reports, the Directors noted that actual adviser fees were lower than the median fees of the respective Lipper peer groups for three of the Funds (Robeco Boston Partners All-Cap Value Fund, Robeco Boston Partners Global Equity Fund, and Robeco Boston Partners International Equity Fund), but higher than the median fees of each Fund’s respective Lipper peer

 

86      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

OTHER INFORMATION (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

group for the other four Robeco Investment Funds. The Directors considered discussions held during Robeco’s presentation on the variance in fees, and the higher costs of managing certain portfolios due to, among other things, short sales and increased regulations. The Directors noted that Robeco had contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through at least December 31, 2014 to limit total annual operating expenses to agreed upon levels for each Fund.

After reviewing the information regarding the Funds’ costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering Robeco’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Funds were fair and reasonable and that the Investment Advisory Agreements and Addendum should be approved and continued for additional one-year periods ending August 16, 2015.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        87   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (unaudited)

 

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge by calling (888) 261-4073.

 

Name,  Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s)
Held with
Company
  Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5  Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen  by
Director*
 

Other
Directorships
Held by
Director

During Past 5 Years

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

  Director   1988 to present   Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012) ;Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to Present

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

  Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

88      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

Name,  Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s)
Held with
Company
  Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5  Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen  by
Director*
 

Other
Directorships
Held by
Director

During Past 5 Years

INTERESTED DIRECTORS2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).   23   None
OFFICERS

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer  

President 2009

to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004

to Present

  President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Vice President and Senior Director of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square,

Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

 

Assistant

Secretary

  1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A

 

* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1. 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2. 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        89   


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

PRIVACY NOTICE (unaudited)

 

 

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

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

•           Social Security number

•           account balances

•           account transactions

•           transaction history

•           wire transfer instructions

•           checking account information

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

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information   Do the Robeco Investment Funds share?   Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes

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

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

  Yes   No
For joint marketing with other financial companies   No   We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your transactions and experiences   Yes   No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness   No   We don’t share
For our affiliates to market to you   Yes   Yes
For nonaffiliates to market to you   No   We don’t share

 

Questions?   Call (888)-261-4073 or go to www.robecoinvest.com

 

90      ANNUAL REPORT 2014


ROBECO INVESTMENT FUNDS     

 

PRIVACY NOTICE (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

What we do

 
 
How do the Robeco Investment Funds protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How do the Robeco Investment Funds collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

•           open an account

•           provide account information

•           give us your contact information

•           make a wire transfer

•           tell us where to send the money

 

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

•           sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

•           affiliates from using your information to market to you

•           sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions

Affiliates  

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies. Our affiliates include:

 

•           Robeco Investment Management, Inc.

 

•           Robeco Securities, LLC

Nonaffiliates  

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

 

•            The Robeco Investment Funds don’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Robeco Investment Funds may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

Joint marketing  

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

 

•            The Robeco Investment Funds may share your information with other financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing arrangements who may suggest additional fund services or other investment products which may be of interest to you.

 

ANNUAL REPORT 2014        91   


 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Robeco Investment Management Inc.

909 Third Avenue, 32nd Floor

New York, NY 10022

ADMINISTRATOR

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

TRANSFER AGENT

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

PRINCIPAL

UNDERWRITER

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

www.foreside.com

CUSTODIAN

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, Suite 700

Philadelphia, PA 19103

COUNSEL

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

 


 

 

 

S1 FUND

of THE RBB FUND, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Fund.


S1 FUND

ANNUAL INVESTMENT ADVISERS REPORT

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

LOGO

Dear Fellow Investor,

We are pleased to enclose the 2014 annual report of the S1 Fund for your review.

The Simple Alternatives team would like to thank you for your ongoing participation and trust. We are mindful of the confidence you place in us as a firm, and look forward to serving many successful years together.

 

The S1 Fund’s one-year return was 8.90% for the period ended August 31, 2014, compared to a return of 5.67% for the Morningstar multialternative category, and 7.02%, for the Hedge Fund Research Equity Hedge Index (“HFRXEH”). The Fund demonstrated minimal sensitivity to market direction, measured by an average beta(1) of 0.30 and low correlation(2) to the broader equity market, as measured by a 0.11 correlation to the S&P 500. The majority of the Fund’s return and alpha generation came during the last four months of 2013 where it returned 8.50%, net of fees and expenses, with a beta of .28 and an average net market exposure of 36.12%. During that same time frame, the S&P 500 returned 13.19% and

  

LOGO

the HFRXEH returned 5.60%. January 2014 through August 2014 were not favorable for much of the Fund’s long portfolio as the continued decline in interest rates has pushed money into higher yielding names in which the Fund does not have a significant exposure to.

The S1 Fund provided a good degree of overall downside protection during the one year period ended August 31, 2014, and generated alpha(3) relative to the HFRXEH, a global industry standard for performance measurement across all aspects of the hedge fund industry. The S1 Fund also continued to outperform its peer group since inception (net of fees), represented by the HFRXEH, illustrated in the chart above.

For years, foundations, endowments and other large financial institutions have relied heavily on long/short equity funds to meet their overall risk/return objectives. In the same way, financial advisors also use strategies like the S1 Fund in portfolios to add diversification, and lower volatility with the goal of increasing the overall portfolio risk/return profile for their clients.

The S1 Fund is a long/short equity based mutual fund providing access to a portfolio of boutique long/short equity managers who typically are not available in a mutual fund format.

During the year, we expanded our client service and marketing team with several new additions to the firm. Kyle Mills joined us in February as an Analyst in Internal Sales. Justin Adomunes joined us in April as a Director of Institutional Sales. Justin was previously in institutional sales at John Hancock Investments. David Henesey joined us in July as an Institutional Client Advisor. David was previously a Business Development Specialist at John Hancock. We look forward to the opportunity to be of greater service to you as we further enhance our client service capabilities in the coming year.

 

1


As the founder of Simple Alternatives, I was fortunate to be recognized as a Rising Star of Mutual Funds in 2014 by Institutional Investor’s Fund Industry Intelligence Awards. Recipients are selected based on criteria such as leadership at the firm and within the industry, recognition by industry groups and active contribution to the mutual fund community overall. We believe the S1 Fund (SONEX) helped us achieve this recognition by providing a more intelligent way to access top hedge fund managers, and revolutionizing the way advisors and their investors access alternative investments.

In closing, we are pleased to share these positive developments from the past year, and look forward to a successful year ahead.

Sincerely,

James K. Dilworth

CIO & Founder

Simple Alternatives

 

1) 1) Beta - A measure of a security’s or portfolio’s volatility. A beta of 1 indicates that the security or portfolio is neither more nor less volatile or risky than the wider market. A beta of more than 1 indicates greater volatility and a beta of less than 1 indicates less.

2) Correlation - A statistical measure of how two securities move in relation to each other. Correlation is measured on a scale of - 1 to +1. Investments with a correlation of +0.5 or more tend to rise and fall in value at the same time. Investments with a negative correlation of -0.5 to -1 are more likely to gain or lose value in opposing cycles.

3) Alpha - The measure of the performance of a portfolio after adjusting for risk. Alpha is calculated by comparing the volatility of the portfolio to that of its benchmark. The alpha is the excess return of the portfolio over the benchmark.

The returns quoted represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the returns quoted above. Call Simple Alternatives at 1-866-882-1226 for returns current to the most recent month end. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

 

2


S1 FUND

PERFORMANCE DATA

(UNAUDITED)

Comparison of Change in Value of $1,000,000 Investment in

S1 Fund I Shares vs. S&P 500® Index and HFRX Equity Hedge Index (“HFRXEH”).

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $1,000,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund’s I Shares made on September 30, 2010 (commencement of operations) and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the S&P 500® Index and the HFRXEH Index are unmanaged, do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.

 

    AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2014                
      
 
One
Year
  
  
    
 
Since
Inception*
  
  

S1 Fund, I Shares

     8.90%         3.26%   

S&P 500® Index**

     22.68%         15.48%   

HFRX Equity Hedge Index**

     7.02%         0.56%   

*       Inception date of the Fund is September 30, 2010.

**     Benchmark performance is from the inception date of the Fund only and is not the inception date of the benchmark itself.

Performance quoted is past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the returns quoted above. Returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Call Simple Alternatives at 1-866-882-1226 for returns current to the most recent month-end.

The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence. The Fund’s gross annual operating expense ratio, as stated in the current prospectus, is 4.86% and the Fund’s net operating expense ratio is 4.48%. Net operating expense includes interest and dividends on short sales and acquired fund fees. The Fund’s investment adviser, Simple Alternatives, LLC, has contractually agreed until at least December 31, 2014 to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the total annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, litigation, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) exceeds 2.95% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s I Shares. This limitation can be discontinued at any time after December 31, 2014.

 

3


S1 FUND

PERFORMANCE DATA (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

The Fund is non-diversified and may focus its investments in the securities of a comparatively small number of issuers. Concentration in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential monetary losses than if its assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of issuers. The Fund may invest in small- and medium-sized companies which involve greater risk than investing in larger, more established companies, such as increased volatility of earnings and prospects, higher failure rates, and limited markets, product lines or financial resources.

The Fund may invest in foreign or emerging markets securities which involve special risks, including the volatility of currency exchange rates and, in some cases, limited geographic focus, political and economic instability, and relatively illiquid markets.

The Fund may invest in debt securities which are subject to interest rate risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the debt securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may also invest in high yield, lower rated (junk) bonds which involve a greater degree of risk and price fluctuation than investment grade bonds in return for higher yield potential. The Fund’s distressed debt strategy may involve a substantial degree of risk, including investments in sub-prime mortgage securities.

The Fund may purchase securities of companies in initial public offerings. Special risks associated with these securities may include a limited number of shares available for trading, unseasoned trading, lack of investor knowledge of the company and limited operating history. The Fund may leverage transactions which include selling short as well as borrowing for other than temporary or emergency purposes. Leverage creates the risk of magnified capital losses.

The Fund may also invest in derivatives which can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risks, depending upon the characteristics of a particular derivative. The Fund may invest in options and futures which are subject to special risks and may not fully protect the Fund against declines in the value of its stocks. In addition, an option writing strategy limits the upside profit potential normally associated with stocks. Futures trading is very speculative, largely due to the traditional volatility of future prices.

Portfolio composition is subject to change.

 

4


S1 FUND

FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLES

(UNAUDITED)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, shareholder servicing fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014 and held for the entire period.

ACTUAL EXPENSES

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

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     I SHARES
     BEGINNING ACCOUNT VALUE
MARCH 1, 2014
   ENDING ACCOUNT VALUE
AUGUST 31, 2014
   EXPENSES PAID
DURING PERIOD

Actual*

   $1,000.00    $  966.60      $21.02

Hypothetical

    (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00    1,003.83      21.42

 

 

*

Expenses equal to an annualized expense ratio for the six-month period ended August 31, 2014 of 4.24% for the I Shares of the Fund, which includes waived fees or reimbursed expenses (including dividend and interest expense), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent period (184) then divided by 365 days. The Fund’s ending account value on the first line in the table is based on the actual six-months total return for the I Shares of the Fund of (3.34)%. These amounts include dividends paid on securities which the Fund has sold short (“short-sale dividends”) and related interest expense. The annualized amount of short-sale dividends and related interest expense was 1.24% of the Fund’s average net assets attributable to I Shares for the most recent fiscal year.

 

5


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY TABLE

AUGUST 31, 2014

(UNAUDITED)

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund.

 

SECURITY TYPE/SECTOR CLASSIFICATION    OF NET
ASSETS
     VALUE  

 

 

COMMON STOCKS:

     

Information Technology

     25.5%       $ 24,770,816   

Consumer Discretionary

     22.9            22,198,407   

Financials

     10.4            10,152,242   

Industrials

     8.6            8,363,401   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     7.4            7,178,769   

Materials

     5.3            5,140,019   

Consumer Staples

     0.8            824,615   

Energy

     0.8            821,079   

Telecommunication Services

     0.8            753,162   

Health Care

     0.6            572,097   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     1.8            1,718,824   

PURCHASED OPTIONS

     0.9            867,057   

U.S. TREASURY NOTE

     0.1            103,691   

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT NOTE

     0.0            9,421   

WRITTEN OPTIONS

     (0.4)           (418,387

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS SOLD SHORT

     (2.8)           (2,677,733

COMMON STOCKS SOLD SHORT

     (43.5)           (42,271,750

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES

     60.8            59,034,506   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

     100.0%       $ 97,140,236   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

Please note that securities are classified according to the Bloomberg Sub-Industry Categories for diversification testing purposes. We believe this is the classification that best reflects the industry and risks associated with each position.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

6


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014

     NUMBER
OF SHARES
     VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS — 83.1%

  

  

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY—22.9%

  

  

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.^

     1,665       $ 227,135   

Aeropostale, Inc.*^

     43,121         180,678   

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*

     3,640         233,906   

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc.*†^

     26,652         538,370   

Charter Communications, Inc., Class A*^

     12,200         1,913,814   

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*^

     224         152,018   

Crocs, Inc.*

     12,830         198,224   

Dalata Hotel Group PLC (Ireland)*

     87,904         346,506   

DR Horton, Inc.^

     26,350         571,268   

Expedia, Inc.

     3,100         266,290   

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*^

     23,573         596,868   

HomeAway, Inc.*^

     20,755         689,066   

JC Penney Co., Inc.*^

     36,413         393,260   

La Quinta Holdings, Inc.*^

     42,800         845,300   

Lee Enterprises, Inc.*^

     200,000         812,000   

Lennar Corp., Class A^

     29,430         1,153,067   

Liberty Interactive Corp., Class A*^

     13,900         410,328   

Liberty Media Corp., Class A*^

     20,000         984,600   

Liberty Media Corp., Class C*^

     40,000         1,938,800   

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc., Class A*

     43,800         1,566,726   

Liberty Ventures, Class A*^

     30,000         1,142,700   

LifeLock, Inc.*

     31,211         462,547   

Loral Space & Communications, Inc.*^

     10,115         757,816   

Netflix, Inc.*^

     795         379,724   

Perry Ellis International, Inc.*^

     23,050         462,614   

Polaris Industries, Inc.^

     818         118,921   

Quiksilver, Inc.*^

     50,116         145,838   

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc.*^

     2,548         213,701   

Select Comfort Corp.*

     8,810         197,080   

SFX Entertainment, Inc.*^

     98,078         693,411   

Sony Corp. - Sponsored ADR^

     10,382         198,400   

Starbucks Corp.^

     1,219         94,850   

Starz, Class A*

     1,731         54,164   

Time Warner, Inc.

     3,907         300,956   

Time, Inc.*

     326         7,652   

Toll Brothers, Inc.*^

     31,419         1,118,202   

William Lyon Homes, Class A*^

     27,300         696,969   

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.^

     14,538         386,129   

Yellow Media Ltd. (Canada)*

     10,000         156,075   

Zulily, Inc., Class A*^

     18,062         592,434   
     

 

 

 
        22,198,407   
     

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES—0.8%

  

  

Coca-Cola Central Japan Co. Ltd. (Japan)

     15,000         375,578   

Diageo, PLC - Sponsored ADR (United Kingdom)

     900         107,883   

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The), Class A

     391         30,041   
     NUMBER
OF SHARES
     VALUE  

CONSUMER STAPLES—(CONTINUED)

  

Limoneira Co.

     12,840       $ 311,113   
     

 

 

 
        824,615   
     

 

 

 

ENERGY—0.8%

  

  

Frontline 2012 Ltd. (Bermuda)

     60,000         423,855   

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd.*†

     32,400         397,224   
     

 

 

 
        821,079   
     

 

 

 

FINANCIALS—10.4%

  

  

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.^

     10,316         421,924   

American International Group, Inc.^

     5,310         297,679   

Bank Mutual Corp.^

     79,210         521,994   

BSB Bancorp, Inc.*

     6,050         111,864   

Capital & Counties Properties, PLC (United Kingdom)

     84,322         468,725   

Capital Bank Financial Corp., Class A*^

     14,091         344,807   

Dream Unlimited Corp. - Class A (Canada)*

     36,161         454,299   

Education Realty Trust, Inc., REIT

     19,650         213,988   

Equity Commonwealth^

     22,137         595,043   

Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.^

     9,778         167,106   

Hampden Bancorp, Inc.^

     27,461         467,386   

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.*

     54,825         682,571   

Heritage Commerce Corp.^

     34,370         285,958   

HomeStreet, Inc.^

     18,650         339,244   

Howard Hughes Corp., (The)*^

     5,373         850,922   

ICG Group, Inc.*

     36,430         632,060   

Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC (Ireland)*

     317,965         434,134   

Kite Realty Group Trust REIT

     2,859         73,533   

Metro Bancorp, Inc.*^

     17,900         416,354   

National Bank Holdings Corp., Class A^

     21,690         440,741   

Ocean Shore Holding Co.^

     34,620         499,913   

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp*^

     82,989         580,923   

Unite Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     52,067         379,062   

Urban & Civic PLC (United Kingdom)*

     22,200         80,897   

ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc.^

     15,014         391,115   
     

 

 

 
        10,152,242   
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE—0.6%

  

  

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.D

     14,450         219,157   

BioScrip, Inc.*

     23,800         201,348   

LDR Holding Corp.*

     5,600         151,592   
     

 

 

 
        572,097   
     

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS—8.6%

  

  

3M Co.^

     780         112,320   

Air Canada, Class B
(Canada)*

     32,070         251,429   

Ashtead Group PLC (United Kingdom)

     60,000         977,232   

Baltic Trading Ltd.†^

     104,400         612,828   

Danaher Corp.^

     2,575         197,271   

FedEx Corp.^

     2,195         324,597   
 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

7


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

     NUMBER
OF SHARES
     VALUE  

INDUSTRIALS—(CONTINUED)

     

Golden Ocean Group Ltd.
(Bermuda)

     377,500       $ 622,061   

H&E Equipment Services, Inc.

     14,400         589,104   

HD Supply Holdings, Inc.*^

     31,500         874,755   

Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc.

     14,000         132,440   

Nielsen Holdings NV*^

     4,080         191,719   

Owens Corning^

     8,500         306,000   

Paragon Shipping, Inc., Class A*†

     68,300         348,330   

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

     1,400         107,772   

Safe Bulkers, Inc

     25,700         225,389   

Star Bulk Carriers Corp.*

     29,600         416,768   

United Continental Holdings, Inc.*

     5,510         262,331   

United Rentals, Inc.*^

     11,700         1,376,505   

USG Corp.*^

     15,000         434,550   
     

 

 

 
        8,363,401   
     

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY—25.5%

  

Aerohive Networks, Inc.*

     53,162         423,701   

Apple, Inc.^

     11,895         1,219,237   

Applied Micro Circuits Corp.*^

     61,179         518,186   

Aruba Networks, Inc.*^

     48,490         1,035,262   

Attunity Ltd.*†

     27,410         187,758   

Autodesk, Inc.*

     5,069         271,901   

Barracuda Networks, Inc.*

     14,049         349,118   

Blackbaud, Inc.

     12,674         492,892   

Blackberry Ltd. (Canada)*

     11,500         117,070   

CommScope Holding Co., Inc.*^

     24,250         624,680   

comScore, Inc.*

     11,717         448,878   

Constant Contact, Inc.*

     13,249         412,971   

eBay, Inc.*^

     8,300         460,650   

EchoStar Corp., Class A*^

     24,000         1,210,320   

Facebook, Inc., Class A*

     4,656         348,362   

Fortinet, Inc.*

     14,261         368,076   

Hewlett-Packard Co.^

     16,721         635,398   

JDS Uniphase Corp.*

     18,050         208,478   

LinkedIn Corp., Class A*

     1,955         441,341   

LogMeIn, Inc*^

     17,148         725,017   

Marketo, Inc.*

     22,587         661,347   

Mellanox Technologies Ltd.*

     11,405         476,615   

MobileIron, Inc.*

     155         1,796   

Nimble Storage, Inc.*^

     31,005         838,375   

NXP Semiconductor NV*†

     10,580         724,942   

Optimal Payments, PLC (United Kingdom)*

     247,800         1,989,869   

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*^

     8,906         756,921   

Proofpoint, Inc.*^

     18,376         732,835   

Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd. - ADR*

     7,024         616,918   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

     5,800         441,380   

RealNetworks, Inc.*

     3,500         26,950   

RF Micro Devices, Inc.*

     30,091         375,235   

Sabre Corp.*^

     54,100         986,243   

Salesforce.Com, Inc.*^

     8,146         481,347   

Shutterstock, Inc.*

     3,122         221,038   

Silicon Motion Technology Corp., ADR^

     30,171         813,410   

Tableau Software, Inc.,
Class A*

     12,995         851,043   

Teradyne, Inc.^

     29,800         613,582   
     NUMBER
OF SHARES
     VALUE  

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY—(CONTINUED)

  

Wix.Com Ltd.*

     27,636       $ 454,889   

Xcerra Corp.*^

     152,810         1,596,864   

Yahoo!, Inc.*

     15,838         609,921   
     

 

 

 
        24,770,816   
     

 

 

 

MATERIALS—5.3%

     

Alcoa, Inc.^

     32,000         531,520   

Constellium NV, Class A*†

     40,900         1,164,832   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.*^

     150,000         1,918,500   

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp.^

     133,000         541,310   

Owens-Illinois, Inc.*^

     15,000         461,850   

Smurfit Kappa Group, PLC (Ireland)*

     23,000         522,007   
     

 

 

 
        5,140,019   
     

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS—7.4%

  

American Campus Communities, Inc.^

     13,294         525,246   

Avalonbay Communities, Inc.^

     4,088         629,961   

Brookfield Canada Office Properties (Canada)

     12,451         327,965   

DiamondRock Hospitality Co.^

     57,296         763,183   

Excel Trust, Inc.

     35,651         461,324   

Green REIT, PLC (Ireland)*

     421,177         697,295   

Klepierre (France)

     7,236         344,760   

Lar Espana Real Estate Socimi SA (Spain)*

     26,295         318,235   

Mack-Cali Realty Corp.^

     33,755         713,581   

Parkway Properties, Inc.^

     21,904         454,508   

Prologis, Inc.^

     25,724         1,053,141   

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

     24,726         391,660   

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.^

     42,160         497,910   
     

 

 

 
        7,178,769   
     

 

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES—0.8%

  

Globalstar, Inc.*

     40,000         159,200   

inContact, Inc.*^

     64,843         593,962   
     

 

 

 
        753,162   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost 69,382,761)

   

     80,774,607   
     

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS — 1.8%

  

COMMODITY—0.5%

  

SPDR Gold Shares*^

     4,000         495,440   
     

 

 

 

CURRENCY—0.2%

  

ProShares UltraShort Yen*

     2,950         201,514   
     

 

 

 

EQUITY—0.9%

     

IShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF^

     7,050         506,049   

ProShares UltraPro Short Russell 2000*^

     4,250         154,700   

ProShares UltraShort Russell 2000*

     3,430         150,371   
     

 

 

 
        811,120   
     

 

 

 
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

8


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

     NUMBER
OF SHARES
     VALUE  

OTHER—0.2%

     

AP Alternative Assets LP*

     6,588       $ 210,750   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
(Cost 1,689,952)

   

     1,718,824   
     

 

 

 
     PAR
(000’s)
        

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT NOTE — 0.0%

  

Canadian Government Bond
3.000% 12/01/15

     CAD 10         9,421   

TOTAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENT NOTE
(Cost 10,079)

   

     9,421   

U.S. TREASURY NOTE — 0.1%

  

2.625% 04/30/16^

     $100         103,691   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL U.S. TREASURY NOTE

(Cost 101,076)

  

  

     103,691   
     

 

 

 
     NUMBER
OF
CONTRACTS
        

PURCHASED OPTIONS — 0.9%

  

  

CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED—0.7%

  

  

Apple, Inc.

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $17

     450         42,750   

Apple, Inc.

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $18

     450         26,100   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $20

     300         37,500   

BlackBerry Ltd.

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $10

     500         70,000   

Constellium NV

     

Expires 11/22/14

     

Strike Price $30

     440         51,920   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

     

Expires 12/20/14

     

Strike Price $12.5

     500         42,500   

iShares MSCI Emerging Market

     

Expires 10/18/14

     

Strike Price $46

     150         7,200   

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd.

     

Expires 09/20/14

     

Strike Price $15

     800         20,000   

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd.

     

Expires 12/20/14

     

Strike Price $12.50

     900         97,200   

Loral Space & Communications, Inc.

     

Expires 10/18/14

     

Strike Price $80

     74         15,170   

Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc.

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $10

     800         56,800   
     NUMBER
OF
CONTRACTS
     VALUE  

CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED—(CONTINUED)

  

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp.

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $5

     500       $ 22,500   

Rockwood Holdings, Inc.

     

Expires 11/22/14

     

Strike Price $85

     130         18,200   

Rockwood Holdings, Inc.

     

Expires 11/22/14

     

Strike Price $90

     260         20,800   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     

Expires 09/30/14

     

Strike Price $205

     250         7,500   

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $40

     75         8,325   

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $42

     200         9,900   

Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance

     

Expires 10/18/14

     

Strike Price $100

     120         51,600   

Yelp, Inc.

     

Expires 11/22/14

     

Strike Price $85

     80         55,200   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS PURCHASED

(Cost 778,611)

  

  

     661,165   
     

 

 

 

PUT OPTIONS PURCHASED—0.2%

  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

     

Expires 09/12/14

     

Strike Price $38

     400         14,000   

Ebix, Inc.

     

Expires 03/20/15

     

Strike Price $12

     35         4,200   

Energy Select Sector SPDR.

     

Expires 09/20/14

     

Strike Price $96

     205         8,405   

HSBC Holdings PLC - Sponsored ADR

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $50

     108         7,830   

iShares MSCI Emerging Market

     

Expires 10/18/14

     

Strike Price $43

     450         16,200   

Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.

     

Expires 12/20/14

     

Strike Price $55

     60         12,600   

SAP SE

     

Expires 01/17/15

     

Strike Price $75

     47         10,692   

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

     

Expires 09/20/14

     

Strike Price $162

     340         7,140   
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

9


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

     NUMBER
OF 
CONTRACTS
    VALUE  

PUT OPTIONS PURCHASED—(CONTINUED)

  

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

    

Expires 11/22/14

    

Strike Price $165

     300      $ 66,000   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    

Expires 09/30/14

    

Strike Price $196

     175        20,650   

Target Corp.

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $45

     150        1,875   

Target Corp.

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $57.50

     150        22,500   

Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF.

    

Expires 12/20/14

    

Strike Price $38

     600        13,800   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL PUT OPTIONS PURCHASED
(Cost 394,112)

   

    205,892   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS — 0.9%
(Cost 1,172,723)

   

    867,057   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 85.9%
(Cost 72,356,591)

   

    83,473,600   
    

 

 

 
     NUMBER
OF SHARES
       

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT — (46.3)%

  

 

COMMON STOCKS — (43.5)%

  

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY—(8.7)%

  

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Germany)

     (1,400     (163,391

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*

     (1,900     (122,094

Cabela’s, Inc.*

     (3,400     (207,468

Casio Computer Co. Ltd. (Japan)

     (4,700     (82,036

Cheesecake Factory, Inc.

     (2,000     (89,900

CST Brands, Inc.

     (5,500     (191,620

Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc.*

     (1,100     (24,343

Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc.

     (3,400     (148,036

Five Below, Inc.*

     (3,010     (122,086

Francesca’s Holdings Corp.*

     (13,770     (192,780

Guess?, Inc.

     (2,000     (46,880

Hanesbrands, Inc.

     (1,331     (136,667

Hasbro, Inc.

     (2,598     (136,798

Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc.*

     (8,200     (60,516

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A

     (4,000     (239,800

Marriott International, Inc., Class A

     (8,394     (582,544

McDonald’s Corp.

     (1,000     (93,720

Mohawk Industries, Inc.*

     (1,300     (189,826

New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc. - Sponsored ADR (Cayman Island)

     (21,345     (486,879

Nikon Corp. (Japan)

     (5,300     (77,041

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.*

     (6,000     (167,280

Scholastic Corp.

     (5,200     (182,208

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc.*

     (546,582     (1,984,093
     NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY—(CONTINUED)

  

Sonic Corp.*

     (10,500   $ (221,655

Swatch Group AG (The) (Switzerland)

     (450     (244,270

Target Corp.

     (1,900     (114,133

TripAdvisor, Inc.*

     (18,235     (1,806,906

Tuesday Morning Corp.*

     (6,550     (115,149

Tupperware Brands Corp.

     (1,747     (127,985

Volkswagen AG (Germany)

     (450     (101,424
    

 

 

 
       (8,459,528
    

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES—(0.5)%

    

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

     (1,009     (108,972

Philip Morris International, Inc.

     (1,740     (148,909

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

     (1,600     (62,624

WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC (United Kingdom)

     (61,228     (180,605
    

 

 

 
       (501,110
    

 

 

 

FINANCIALS—(3.1)%

    

American Capital Agency Corp.

     (5,100     (120,615

Amtrust Financial Services, Inc.

     (3,000     (132,090

Calamos Asset Management, Inc., Class A

     (12,970     (167,183

Cohen & Steers, Inc.

     (3,830     (167,141

First Cash Financial Services, Inc.*

     (2,450     (141,512

Greenhill & Co., Inc.

     (2,400     (117,648

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., Class A

     (4,280     (100,323

Invesco Ltd.

     (3,880     (158,459

Legg Mason, Inc.

     (3,630     (179,032

Medallion Financial Corp.

     (7,300     (88,330

MetLife, Inc.

     (1,740     (95,248

MSCI, Inc.*

     (2,600     (119,964

Noah Holdings Ltd. - Sponsored ADR*

     (5,960     (91,009

Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.*

     (4,500     (255,735

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.

     (2,060     (124,424

Public Storage

     (2,100     (367,878

Shaftesbury PLC (United Kingdom)

     (20,015     (227,630

Springleaf Holdings, Inc.*

     (3,720     (123,802

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.

     (3,860     (127,805

US Bancorp

     (2,150     (90,902
    

 

 

 
       (2,996,730
    

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE—(1.6)%

    

Anika Therapeutics, Inc.*

     (3,400     (142,800

Cyberonics, Inc.*

     (2,060     (118,223

HMS Holdings Corp.*

     (12,800     (292,608

Masimo Corp.*

     (13,500     (302,940

Medidata Solutions, Inc.*

     (14,099     (656,167
    

 

 

 
       (1,512,738
    

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS—(1.4)%

    

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

     (3,180     (147,361

Deutsche Lufthansa AG

     (8,800     (152,925

DigitalGlobe, Inc.*

     (6,250     (189,813
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

10


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

     NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  

INDUSTRIALS—(CONTINUED)

    

Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

     (6,600   $ (180,378

Lindsay Corp.

     (1,890     (147,004

Nielsen Holdings NV

     (2,896     (136,083

Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.†

     (5,000     (118,750

Trex Co., Inc.*

     (5,200     (195,520

Trinity Industries, Inc.

     (2,500     (120,950
    

 

 

 
       (1,388,784
    

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY—(18.6)%

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

     (4,986     (117,370

Altera Corp.

     (15,793     (558,125

Amadeus IT Holding SA, Class A

     (4,700     (174,875

Amber Road, Inc.*

     (8,517     (127,755

AU Optronics Corp.

     (39,000     (192,660

Benefitfocus, Inc.*

     (18,503     (610,969

Bottomline Technologies de, Inc.* .

     (8,600     (242,176

Broadcom Corp., Class A

     (12,354     (486,501

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*

     (25,344     (447,068

Canon, Inc. (Japan)

     (3,100     (101,164

Ciena Corp.*

     (22,080     (456,835

Conversant, Inc.*

     (9,363     (257,857

Dassault Systemes SA (France)

     (7,816     (517,998

Dealertrack Technologies, Inc.*

     (2,000     (89,520

Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A*

     (22,191     (1,033,657

E2open, Inc.*

     (31,385     (473,914

Ellie Mae, Inc.*

     (9,498     (340,028

FireEye, Inc.*

     (26,835     (835,642

Five9, Inc.*

     (65,127     (382,295

Flextronics International Ltd.*

     (20,000     (220,800

Freescale Semiconductor Ltd.*

     (21,159     (445,397

Hewlett-Packard Co.

     (6,080     (231,040

Intel Corp.

     (19,551     (682,721

International Business Machines Corp.

     (1,400     (269,220

IPG Photonics Corp.*

     (1,780     (122,250

Marketo, Inc.*

     (3,870     (113,314

Marvell Technology Group Ltd.†

     (21,117     (293,737

MercadoLibre, Inc.†

     (4,749     (545,850

MicroStrategy, Inc.*

     (4,594     (638,244

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

     (13,321     (791,267

Neopost SA (France)

     (1,400     (93,506

NetScout Systems, Inc.*

     (9,564     (440,613

NVIDIA Corp.

     (22,505     (437,722

Oracle Corp.

     (5,000     (207,650

PMC-Sierra, Inc.*

     (23,753     (175,297

Q2 Holdings, Inc.*

     (26,439     (390,240

RealPage, Inc.*

     (43,265     (697,432

Splunk, Inc.*

     (8,184     (441,527

Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.*

     (6,800     (300,356

Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Co. Ltd. -
Sponsored ADR

     (52,163     (1,092,293

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.*

     (14,849     (349,099

Trimble Navigation Ltd.*

     (12,619     (419,708

United Microelectronics Corp. - Sponsored ADR

     (49,000     (108,780

VeriSign, Inc.*

     (7,604     (433,998

Western Union Co.

     (5,000     (87,350

 

     NUMBER
OF SHARES
    VALUE  

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY—(CONTINUED)

  

Workday, Inc., Class A*

     (6,030   $ (549,152

Zynga, Inc., Class A*

     (31,220     (90,382
    

 

 

 
       (18,115,354
    

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS—(7.3)%

  

Acadia Realty Trust

     (12,378     (356,734

Brandywine Realty Trust

     (24,315     (389,526

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

     (25,963     (614,544

Camden Property Trust

     (4,500     (336,780

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

     (16,804     (319,276

CubeSmart

     (45,725     (850,485

Duke Realty Corp.

     (18,926     (352,024

Extra Space Storage, Inc.

     (14,850     (782,595

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

     (11,605     (493,793

Kimco Realty Corp.

     (14,867     (349,226

LaSalle Hotel Properties

     (6,300     (230,265

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

     (13,347     (517,063

Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.

     (2,258     (91,743

Realty Income Corp.

     (7,600     (339,872

Regency Centers Corp.

     (2,540     (145,136

Ventas, Inc.

     (8,750     (575,575

Washington Real Estate
Investment Trust

     (13,341     (370,613
    

 

 

 
       (7,115,250
    

 

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES—(1.9)%

  

AT&T, Inc.

     (20,385     (712,660

Belgacom SA (Belgium)

     (5,000     (178,239

CenturyLink, Inc.

     (6,490     (266,025

Deutsche Telekom AG, Registered
Shares (Germany)

     (11,312     (169,536

Telefonica SA

     (20,000     (317,297

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     (3,674     (183,039
    

 

 

 
       (1,826,796
    

 

 

 

UTILITIES—(0.4)%

    

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

     (14,000     (355,460
    

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
SOLD SHORT
(Proceeds 39,847,766)

       (42,271,750
    

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED-FUNDS SOLD SHORT — (2.8)%

  

EQUITY—(2.8)%

    

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

     (5,190     (233,861

iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund

     (9,902     (1,154,177

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

     (3,110     (121,135

Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund

     (27,000     (1,168,560
    

 

 

 
       (2,677,733
    

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
SOLD SHORT
(Proceeds 2,591,260)

    

    (2,677,733
    

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT
(Proceeds 42,439,026)

       (44,949,483
    

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

11


S1 FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONCLUDED)

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

     NUMBER
OF 
CONTRACTS
    VALUE  

WRITTEN OPTIONS — (0.4)%

  

 

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN—(0.4)%

  

 

BlackBerry Ltd.

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $20

     (650   $ (5,850

Constellium NV

    

Expires 11/22/14

    

Strike Price $35

     (422     (9,495

Energy Select Sector SPDR.

    

Expires 09/20/14

    

Strike Price $97

     (125     (25,875

HSBC Holdings PLC - Sponsored ADR

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $55

     (72     (9,072

iShares MSCI Emerging Market

    

Expires 10/18/14

    

Strike Price $44

     (150     (24,300

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd.

    

Expires 09/20/14

    

Strike Price $17.50

     (200     (5,000

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd.

    

Expires 09/20/14

    

Strike Price $20

     (710     (17,750

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd.

    

Expires 12/20/14

    

Strike Price $15

     (900     (42,750

Loral Space & Communications, Inc.

    

Expires 10/18/14

    

Strike Price $85

     (148     (51,800

Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.

    

Expires 12/20/14

    

Strike Price $70

     (30     (3,000

SAP SE

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $85

     (47     (4,582

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial

    

Average ETF

    

Expires 11/22/14

    

Strike Price $73

     (450     (89,550

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    

Expires 09/30/14

    

Strike Price $200

     (150     (34,500

Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF.

    

Expires 12/20/14

    

Strike Price $41

     (100     (24,500

Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF.

    

Expires 12/20/14

    

Strike Price $42

     (100     (17,400
    

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN
(Premiums Received 313,469)

   

    (365,424
    

 

 

 
     NUMBER
OF 
CONTRACTS
    VALUE  

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN—0.0%

  

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

    

Expires 11/22/14

    

Strike Price $16

     (200   $ (7,500

BlackBerry Ltd.

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $8

     (250     (9,250

SAP SE

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $65

     (47     (2,350

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $36

     (275     (25,163

Target Corp.

    

Expires 01/17/15

    

Strike Price $50

     (300     (8,700
    

 

 

 

TOTAL PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN
(Premiums Received 68,795)

   

    (52,963
    

 

 

 

TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS — (0.4)%
(Premiums Received 382,264)

   

    (418,387
    

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF
LIABILITIES — 60.8%

   

    59,034,506   
    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

     $ 97,140,236   
    

 

 

 

 

D

Security has been valued at fair market value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of The RBB Fund, Inc.’s Board of Directors. As of August 31, 2014, fair valued positions amounted to $219,157 or 0.2% of net assets.

*

Non-income producing security.

This company is domiciled outside of the United States. The security’s functional currency is the United States dollar.

^

Security position is either entirely or partially held in a segregated account as collateral for securities sold short.

ADR

 

American Depositary Receipt

CAD

 

Canadian Dollar

ETF

 

Exchange-traded Fund

MSCI

 

Morgan Stanley Capital International

PLC

 

Public Limited Company

REIT

 

Real Estate Investment Trust

S&P

 

Standard & Poors

SPDR

 

Standard & Poors Depositary Receipt

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

12


S1 FUND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AUGUST 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (cost $72,356,591)

   $ 83,473,600   

Cash

     32,800,143   

Deposits held with prime broker for securities sold short and written options

     43,962,419   

Foreign currency deposits held with prime broker for securities sold short and written options

     516,975   

Receivables for:

  

Investments sold

     5,784,418   

Capital shares sold

     140,627   

Dividends and interest

     40,162   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     22,453   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     166,740,797   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Securities sold short, at value (proceeds $42,439,026)

     44,949,483   

Options written, at value (premiums received $382,264)

     418,387   

Foreign currency due to prime broker for securities sold short and written options

     7,133,350   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     2,851,351   

Capital shares redeemed

     45,751   

Investment advisory fees

     167,476   

Dividends on securities sold short

     39,174   

Due to prime broker

     13,867,231   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     128,358   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     69,600,561   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 97,140,236   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

  

Capital stock, $0.001 par value

   $ 8,837   

Paid-in capital

     87,822,106   

Accumulated net investment loss

     (1,477,683

Accumulated net realized gain from investments, foreign currency transactions, securities sold short and written options

     2,133,183   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, securities sold short, foreign currency translations and written options

     8,653,793   
  

 

 

 

Net assets

   $ 97,140,236   
  

 

 

 

I SHARES

  

Net assets

   $ 97,140,236   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     8,837,150   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 10.99   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

13


S1 FUND

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

AUGUST 31, 2014

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $21,387)

   $ 761,912   

Interest

     4,289   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     766,201   
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fees (Note 2)

     2,390,704   

Dividend expense on securities sold short

     660,388   

Prime broker interest expense

     418,363   

Administration and accounting fees (Note 2)

     248,254   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

     105,778   

Custodian fees (Note 2)

     57,828   

Legal fees

     43,467   

Audit fees

     41,107   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     33,905   

Registration and filing fees

     25,739   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     23,213   

Insurance fees

     7,206   

Other expenses

     9,758   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

     4,065,710   

Less: waivers and reimbursements (Note 2)

     (425,749
  

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

     3,639,961   
  

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (2,873,760
  

 

 

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENTS

  

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

  

Investments

     10,498,778   

Securities sold short

     (4,340,412

Foreign currency transactions

     (254,502

Written options

     472,472   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

  

Investments

     5,871,213   

Securities sold short

     (1,715,377

Foreign currency translation

     171,896   

Written options

     3,344   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     10,707,412   
  

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

   $ 7,833,652   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

14


S1 FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

     FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2014
    FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2013
 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM

    

OPERATIONS:

    

Net investment loss

   $ (2,873,760   $ (2,074,613

Net realized gain from investments, securities sold short, foreign currency transactions and written options

     6,376,336        2,022,462   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments, securities sold short, foreign currency translation and written options

     4,331,076        2,230,135   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     7,833,652        2,177,984   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

    

Net realized gains

     (2,667,365     (153,211
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (2,667,365     (153,211
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:

    

I Shares

    

Proceeds from shares sold

     48,863,982        36,986,724   

Proceeds from reinvestment of distributions

     2,611,352        149,176   

Shares redeemed

     (44,300,330     (18,650,974
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     7,175,004        18,484,926   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     12,341,291        20,509,699   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    

Beginning of period

     84,798,945        64,289,246   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 97,140,236      $ 84,798,945   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss, end of period

   $ (1,477,683   $ (1,306,199
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

    

I Shares

    

Shares sold

     4,469,573        3,558,619   

Shares reinvested

     239,354        14,497   

Shares redeemed

     (4,036,017     (1,799,971
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in shares

     672,910        1,773,145   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

15


S1 FUND

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

AUGUST 31, 2014

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 7,833,652   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets to net cash used in operating activities:

  

Purchases of investments securities

     (254,453,458

Proceeds from disposition of long-term investments securities

     257,510,314   

Purchases to cover short sales

     (142,434,847

Proceeds from short sales

     146,725,105   

Net cost of purchased options

     (1,885,370

Proceeds from written options

     3,069,868   

Cost of closed and exercised options

     (3,030,887

Net amortization/(accretion) of premium/(discount)

     717   

Net realized gain on investments and investments sold short

     (6,158,366

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments, investments sold short and written options

     (4,159,180

Increase in deposits with brokers for securities sold short

     (8,450,135

Decrease in foreign currency deposits held with prime broker for securities sold short and written options

     653,410   

Decrease in foreign currency due to prime broker for securities sold short and written options

     (667,193

Decrease in dividend and interest receivable

     135   

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (4,691

Increase in dividends payable on securities sold short

     5,655   

Increase in payable to investment advisor

     4,743   

Increase in accrued expenses

     28,121   
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (5,412,407
  

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

  

Increase in due to prime broker payable

     7,613,049   

Net proceeds from capital share transactions

     4,384,442   

Distributions paid from realized capital gains

     (56,013
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     11,941,478   
  

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and foreign currency

     6,529,071   

CASH:

  

Cash and foreign currency at beginning of the period

     26,271,072   
  

 

 

 

Cash and foreign currency at end of the period

   $ 32,800,143   
  

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

  

Cash paid during the period for interest expense

   $ 417,809   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

16


S1 FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

    I SHARES  
    FOR THE
YEAR
ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2014
    FOR THE
YEAR
ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2013
    FOR THE
YEAR
ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2012
    FOR THE
PERIOD
ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2011(1)
 

PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

       

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $      10.39        $      10.06        $      9.96        $      10.00   

Net investment loss(2)

    (0.36)        (0.29)        (0.32)        (0.29)   

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

              1.28                  0.64                0.42                  0.25 (3) 

Total from operations

              0.92                  0.35                0.10                (0.04)   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

       

Net realized gains

            (0.32)                (0.02)                —                —   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

            (0.32)                (0.02)                —                —   

Net asset value, end of period

    $      10.99        $      10.39        $  10.06        $    9.96   

Total investment return(4)

    8.90     3.52     1.00     (0.40) %(5) 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

       

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $97,140        $84,799        $64,289        $51,234   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements
(including dividend and interest expense)

    4.19     4.43     4.42     4.06 %(6) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements
(excluding dividend and interest expense)

    2.95     2.95     2.95     2.95 %(6) 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and reimbursements
(including dividend and interest expense)

    4.68     4.81     5.24     6.39 %(6) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

    (3.31)     (2.76)     (3.24)     (3.16) %(6) 

Portfolio turnover rate

    328.09     310.41     249.27     440.88 %(5) 

 

(1)

The Fund commenced investment operations on September 30, 2010.

(2)

Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

(3)

The amount shown may not correlate with the change in the aggregate gains and losses due to the timing of sales and purchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund’s portfolio.

(4)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(5)

Not annualized.

(6)

Annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

17


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

    The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the S1 Fund (the “Fund”), which commenced investment operations on September 30, 2010. The Fund offers two classes of shares, I Shares and R Shares. As of August 31, 2014, Class R Shares have not been issued.

    RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

    PORTFOLIO VALUATION — The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service, which considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings, and are deemed representative of market values at the close of the market. Fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Foreign securities are valued based on prices from the primary market in which they are traded, and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. Options for which the primary market is a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are traded, or, in the absence of any sale, will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Options not traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last quoted bid price for long option positions and the closing ask price for short option positions. If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments. The Fund may use fair value pricing more frequently for securities traded primarily in non-U.S. markets because, among other things, most foreign markets close well before the Fund values its securities, generally as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The earlier close of these foreign markets gives rise to the possibility that significant events, including broad market moves, government actions or pronouncements, aftermarket trading, or news events may have occurred in the interim. To account for this, the Fund may value foreign securities using fair value prices based on third-party vendor modeling tools (international fair value pricing).

    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS — The inputs and valuations techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

    Ÿ Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

    Ÿ Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

18


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

    Ÿ Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

    The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

    The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:

 

                   LEVEL 2      LEVEL 3
     TOTAL FAIR      LEVEL 1      SIGNIFICANT      SIGNIFICANT
     VALUE AT      QUOTED      OBSERVABLE      UNOBSERVABLE
      AUGUST 31, 2014      PRICE      INPUTS      INPUTS

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

   $ 22,198,407       $ 22,198,407       $       $—

Consumer Staples

     824,615         449,037         375,578      

Energy

     821,079         397,224         423,855      

Financials

     10,152,242         8,870,321         1,281,921      

Health Care

     572,097         352,940         219,157      

Industrials

     8,363,401         6,764,108         1,599,293      

Information Technology

     24,770,816         22,780,947         1,989,869      

Materials

     5,140,019         4,618,012         522,007      

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     7,178,769         6,515,774         662,995      

Telecommunication Services

     753,162         753,162              

Exchange Traded Funds

     1,718,824         1,718,824              

Foreign Government Note

     9,421                 9,421      

U.S. Treasury Note

     103,691                 103,691      

Asset Derivatives

           

Equity Contracts

     867,057         867,057              

 

Total Assets

   $ 83,473,600       $ 76,285,813       $ 7,187,787       $—

 

 

                 LEVEL 2     LEVEL 3
     TOTAL FAIR     LEVEL 1     SIGNIFICANT     SIGNIFICANT
     VALUE AT     QUOTED     OBSERVABLE     UNOBSERVABLE
      AUGUST 31, 2014     PRICE     INPUTS     INPUTS

Common Stocks Sold Short

        

Consumer Discretionary

   $ (8,459,528   $ (7,791,366   $ (668,162   $—

Consumer Staples

     (501,110     (320,505     (180,605  

Financials

     (2,996,730     (2,996,730         

Health Care

     (1,512,738     (1,512,738         

Industrials

     (1,388,784     (1,388,784         

Information Technology

     (18,115,354     (17,745,809     (369,545  

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     (7,115,250     (7,115,250         

Telecommunication Services

     (1,826,796     (1,161,724     (665,072  

Utilities

     (355,460     (355,460         

Exchange Traded Funds

     (2,677,733     (2,677,733         

Liability Derivatives

        

Equity Contracts

     (418,387     (418,387         

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (45,367,870   $ (43,484,486   $ (1,883,384   $—

 

    At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and

 

19


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

    Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

    For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

    For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund had no significant transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3.

    DISCLOSURES ABOUT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

    The following tables provide quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of, and gains and losses on, the Fund’s derivative instruments as of August 31, 2014.

    The following table lists the fair values of the Fund’s derivative holdings as of August 31, 2014 grouped by contract type and risk exposure category.

 

     BALANCE SHEET    EQUITY     

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

  

LOCATION

 

  

CONTRACTS

 

  

TOTAL

 

     Asset Derivatives          

Purchased Options

         Investments, at value                $         867,057                $         867,057

Total Value -

Assets

                    $         867,057                $         867,057
     Liability Derivatives          

Written Options

       Options written, at value                $        (418,387)                $        (418,387)

Total Value - Liabilities

                    $        (418,387)                $        (418,387)

 

20


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

    The following table lists the amounts of realized gains or losses included in net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, grouped by contract type and risk exposure.

 

     INCOME STATEMENT    EQUITY      

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

  

LOCATION

 

  

CONTRACTS

 

   

TOTAL

 

     Realized Gain (Loss)             

Purchased Options

   Net realized gain (loss) from Investments    $ (1,588,269   $         (1,588,269)

Written Options

   Net realized gain (loss) from Written Options                  472,472              472,472

Total Realized Gain (Loss)

        $ (1,115,797   $         (1,115,797)

    The following table lists the amounts of change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in net increase in net assets resulting from operations for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, grouped by contract type and risk exposure.

 

     INCOME STATEMENT    EQUITY     

DERIVATIVE TYPE

 

  

LOCATION

 

  

CONTRACTS

 

  

TOTAL

 

     Change in appreciation (depreciation)          

Purchased Options

  

Net change in unrealized appreciation

(depreciation) on Investments

   $        (727,309)    $        (727,309)

Written Options

   Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on Written Options                3,344    3,344

Total change in appreciation (depreciation)

        $        (723,965)    $        (723,965)

    For the year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund’s average volume of derivatives is as follows:

 

PURCHASED    WRITTEN
OPTIONS    OPTIONS
(COST)    (PROCEEDS)
$851,603    $289,014

    USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

    INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME AND EXPENSES — The Fund records security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred for all the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund.

 

21


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

    DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

    U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is the Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION — Assets and liabilities initially expressed in non-U.S. currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the applicable exchange rates at the date of the last business day of the financial statement period. Purchases and sales of securities, interest income, dividends, variation margin received and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the transaction date.

    The Fund does not separately report the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices of securities held. Such changes are included with the net realized gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investment securities in the Statement of Operations. Other foreign currency transactions resulting in realized and unrealized gain or loss are reported separately as net realized gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

    CURRENCY RISK — The Fund invests in securities of foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts. These markets are subject to special risks associated with foreign investments not typically associated with investing in U.S. markets. Because the foreign securities in which the Fund may invest generally trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in currency exchange rates will affect the Fund’s NAV, the value of dividends and interest earned and gains and losses realized on the sale of securities. Because the NAV for the Fund is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, the Fund may lose money by investing in a foreign security if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the local currency value of the Fund holdings goes up. Generally, a strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Fund holdings in foreign securities.

    FOREIGN SECURITIES — Securities of many non-U.S. companies may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Securities of companies traded in many countries outside the U.S., particularly emerging markets countries, may be subject to further risks due to the inexperience of local investment professionals and financial institutions, the possibility of permanent or temporary termination of trading and greater spreads between bid and asked prices of securities. In addition, non-U.S. stock exchanges and investment professionals are subject to less governmental regulation, and commissions may be higher than in the United States. Also, there may be delays in the settlement of non-U.S. stock exchange transactions.

    PURCHASED OPTIONS — The Fund is subject to equity and other risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund purchases option contracts. This transaction is used to hedge against changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and values of equities. The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. Put and call options are accounted for in the same manner as other securities owned. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by the premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid.

    OPTIONS WRITTEN — The Fund is subject to equity and other risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and may enter into options written to hedge against changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and values of equities. Such options may relate to particular securities or domestic stock indices, and may or

 

22


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

may not be listed on a domestic securities exchange or issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. An option contract is a commitment that gives the purchaser of the contract the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. On the other hand, the writer of an option contract is obligated, upon the exercise of the option, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a specified future date. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing put options is limited to the exercised fair value of the option contract. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing call options is potentially unlimited. The Fund also has the additional risk of being unable to enter into a closing transaction at an acceptable price if a liquid secondary market does not exist. The Fund also may write over-the-counter options where completing the obligation depends upon the credit standing of the other party. Option contracts also involve the risk that they may result in loss due to unanticipated developments in market conditions or other causes. Written options are initially recorded as liabilities to the extent of premiums received and subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. Gains or losses are realized when the option transaction expires or closes. When an option is exercised, the proceeds on sales for a written call option or the purchase cost for a written put option is adjusted by the amount of the premium received. Listed option contracts present minimal counterparty credit risk since they are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded options, guarantees the options against default. A Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk related to OTC option contracts is limited to the premium paid. As of August 31, 2014, all of the Fund’s written options are exchange-traded options.

As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had options written valued at ($418,387).

The Fund had transactions in options written during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 as follows:

 

     NUMBER OF     PREMIUMS  
     CONTRACTS     RECEIVED  

Options outstanding at

    

August 31, 2013

     3,670      $ 343,283   

Options written

     38,448        3,069,868   

Options closed

     (29,964     (2,837,804

Options expired

     (6,828     (193,083

Options exercised

              
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options outstanding at August 31, 2014

     5,326      $ 382,264   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SHORT SALES — When the investment adviser or a sub-adviser believes that a security is overvalued, the Fund may sell the security short by borrowing the same security from a broker or other institution and selling the security. The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the borrowed security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund buys and replaces such borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if there is a decline in price of the security between those dates where the decline in price exceeds the costs of borrowing the security and other transaction costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a short position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the amount at which it sold a security short, its potential loss is unlimited. Until the Fund replaces a borrowed security, it will maintain at all times cash, U.S. Government securities, or other liquid securities in an amount which, when added to any amount deposited with a broker as collateral, will at least equal the current market value of the security sold short. Depending on arrangements made with brokers, the Fund may not receive any payments (including interest) on collateral deposited with them.

In accordance with the terms of its prime brokerage agreements, the Fund may receive rebate income or be charged a fee on borrowed securities. Such income or fee is calculated on a daily basis based upon the market value of each borrowed security and a variable rate that is dependent upon the availability of such security. The Fund records these prime broker charges on a net basis as interest income or interest expense. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund had net charges of $271,605 on borrowed securities. Such amounts are included in prime broker interest expense on the Statement of Operations.

 

23


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had securities sold short valued at $44,949,483 for which securities of $34,199,383 and cash deposits of $37,346,044 were pledged as collateral for securities sold short and written options. In accordance with the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”) (the Fund’s prime broker), the Fund may borrow from Goldman Sachs to the extent necessary to maintain required margin cash deposits on short positions. Interest on such borrowings is charged to the Fund based on the LIBOR rate plus an agreed upon spread.

The Fund utilized cash borrowings from Goldman Sachs to meet required margin cash deposits as follows during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014:

 

DAYS    AVERAGE DAILY      WEIGHTED AVERAGE

UTILIZED

   BORROWINGS      INTEREST RATE

365

     CAD         1,835,898       1.55%

336

     EUR         1,256,327       0.64%

365

     GBP         1,834,763       0.98%

17

     HKD         158,068       0.66%

365

     JPY         95,733,993       0.63%

238

     MXN         2,063,329       4.13%

365

     USD         10,850,274       0.63%

As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had borrowings of $13,867,231. Interest expense on cash borrowings for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 totaled $146,758.

FUTURES CONTRACTS — The Fund is subject to equity and other risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund may use futures contracts for hedging or speculative purposes consistent with its investment objective. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund must deposit initial margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet its obligation to purchase or provide securities, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets. Pursuant to the futures contract, the Fund agrees to receive from, or pay to the broker, an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such a receipt of payment is known as “variation margin” and is recorded by the Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Fund’s basis in the contract. Futures contracts have market risks, including the risk that the change in the value of the contract may not correlate with changes in the value of the underlying securities. Use of long futures contracts subjects the Fund to risk of loss in excess of the amount shown on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, up to the notional value of the futures contract. Use of short futures contracts subjects the Fund to unlimited risk of loss. During the year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund did not enter into any futures contracts.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS — In the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives, the Fund is subject to foreign investment and currency risk. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts (“forward contracts”) for purposes of hedging, duration management, as a substitute for securities, to increase returns, for currency hedging or risk management, or to otherwise help achieve the Fund’s investment goal. These contracts are marked-to-market daily at the applicable translation rates. The Fund records realized gains or losses at the time the forward contract is closed. A forward contract is extinguished through a closing transaction or upon delivery of the currency or entering an offsetting contract. Risks may arise upon entering these contracts from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar or other currencies. During the year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund did not enter into any forward contracts.

 

24


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Fund considers liquid assets deposited into bank demand deposit accounts to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expense or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

    OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

2. INVESTMENT ADVISER AND OTHER SERVICES

    Simple Alternatives, LLC (“Simple Alternatives” or the “Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. For its advisory services, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly fee from the Fund calculated at an annual rate of 2.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

    The Adviser has contractually agreed to forgo all or a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses in a aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the total annual Fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, short sale dividend expenses, brokerage commissions, litigation, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) exceed 2.95% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s I Shares and 3.20% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s R Shares, respectively. This contractual limitation is in effect until at least December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time during the first three years the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect, the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses for that year are less than 2.95% or 3.20%, as applicable, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three-year period if such reimbursement by the Fund does not cause the Fund to exceed existing expense limitations. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, investment advisory fees accrued and waived were $2,390,704 and $425,749, respectively. At August 31, 2014, the amount of potential recovery by the Adviser was as follows:

 

     EXPIRATION          
2015   2016      2017  

$472,047

  $ 288,049       $ 425,749   

    Simple Alternatives has currently retained the services of Roaring Blue Lion Capital Management, LLC; Courage Capital Management, LLC; Garelick Capital Partners, L.P.; Maerisland Capital, LLC; Sonica Capital LLC; and Starwood Real Estate Securities, LLC as sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser”) of the Fund. Pursuant to sub-advisory agreements between the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser, each Sub-Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of the portion of the Fund’s portfolio allocated to it by the Adviser. The Fund is not required to invest with any minimum number of Sub-Advisers, and does not have minimum or maximum limitations with respect to allocations of assets to any Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Advisers are compensated by the Adviser and not by the Fund.

    BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Fund. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

    Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB.

 

25


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONTINUED)

 

    In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agency services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee and out of pocket expenses.

    The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Fund. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee subject to certain minimum monthly and out of pocket expenses.

    Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

3. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

    The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The remuneration paid to the Directors by the Fund during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 was $10,292. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Fund or the Company.

4. INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES

    For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Fund were as follows:

 

     PURCHASES    SALES

Investments in Non- U.S. Government Securities

   $255,360,435    $258,297,634

5. FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION

    The Fund has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Fund to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Fund is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

    As of August 31, 2014, federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Fund were as follows:

 

                     NET
FEDERAL TAX      UNREALIZED      UNREALIZED      UNREALIZED

        COST        

     APPRECIATION      DEPRECIATION      APPRECIATION

$73,978,992

     $12,453,295      $(2,958,687)      $9,494,608

    Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

    The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to foreign currency transactions, current year offset of net investment loss against short term capital gains, capitalized dividends on short sales, and passive foreign investment companies, were reclassified to the following accounts:

 

UNDISTRIBUTED    ACCUMULATED     
NET INVESTMENT    NET REALIZED    PAID-IN

        INCOME        

  

        LOSS        

  

CAPITAL

$2,702,276

   $(2,702,276)    $—

 

26


S1 FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AUGUST 31, 2014 (CONCLUDED)

 

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

UNDISTRIBUTED
ORDINARY INCOME

  

UNDISTRIBUTED
LONG-TERM  GAINS

  

UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION

  

QUALIFIED

LATE-YEAR

LOSSES

  

OTHER TEMPORARY
DIFFERENCES

$—    $4,053,329    $6,657,886    $(1,401,922)    $—

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reported as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the two fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

     Ordinary
Income
Dividend
     Long-Term
CapitalGain
Dividend
     Total  
2014      $            —         $ 2,667,365         $2,667,365   
2013              153,211         153,211   

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

Pursuant to federal income tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies, the Funds may elect to treat certain capital losses between November 1 and August 31 and late year ordinary losses ((i) ordinary losses between January 1 and August 31, and (ii) specified ordinary and currency losses between November 1 and August 31) as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the year ended August 31, 2014, any amount of losses elected within the tax return will not be recognized for federal income tax purposes until September 1, 2014.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund deferred to September 1, 2014, the following losses:

 

LATE-YEAR

ORDINARY

LOSS DEFERRAL

   SHORT-TERM
CAPITAL
LOSS DEFERRAL
   LONG-TERM
CAPITAL
LOSS DEFERRAL
$(1,401,922)    $—    $—

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre- enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund had no capital loss carryforwards.

6. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events.

 

27


S1 FUND

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the S1 Fund (one of the series constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) (the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period September 30, 2010 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2011. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the S1 Fund (one of the series constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) at August 31, 2014, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period September 30, 2010 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 29, 2014

 

28


S1 FUND

SHAREHOLDER TAX INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

Certain tax information regarding the Fund is required to be provided to shareholders based upon each Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distribution reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

 

   

LONG-TERM

CAPITAL GAIN

DIVIDENDS

   
 

$2,667,365

 

Because the Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Fund, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

 

29


S1 FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

PROXY VOTING

Policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (866) 882-1226 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO SCHEDULES

The Company files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

ADVISORY AGREEMENT

As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered (1) the approval of the continuation of the investment advisory agreement between Simple Alternatives, LLC and the Company on behalf of the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”), (2) the approval of the continuation of investment sub-advisory agreements between Simple Alternatives and each of Roaring Blue Lion Capital Management, LLC, Courage Capital Management, LLC, Starwood Real Estate Securities, LLC, Maerisland Capital, LLC, Garelick Capital Partners, and Sonica Capital LLC (the “Sub-Advisers”) (the “Sub-Advisory Agreements”), at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements for an additional one-year term ending August 16, 2015. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangements. In approving the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information provided by Simple Alternatives and each of the Sub-Advisers with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Company and Simple Alternatives with respect to the Fund, and the approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreements between Simple Alternatives and each Sub-Adviser, the Directors took into account all materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the Fund by Simple Alternatives and the Sub-Advisers; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of the personnel providing those services; (iii) Simple Alternatives, and the Sub-Advisers’ investment philosophies and processes; (iv) the Sub-Advisers’ assets under management and client descriptions; (v) Simple Alternatives’ and the Sub-Advisers’ soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) Simple Alternatives’ and the Sub-Advisers’ advisory fee arrangements with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) Simple Alternatives’ and the Sub-Advisers’ compliance procedures; (viii) Simple Alternatives’ and the Sub-Advisers’ financial information and insurance coverage; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Fund; (x) a report prepared by Lipper/Thompson Reuters (“Lipper”) comparing the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its Lipper peer group; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its benchmark.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Simple Alternatives and each Sub-Adviser. The Directors concluded that Simple Alternatives and each Sub-Adviser had substantial resources to provide services to the Fund.

 

30


S1 FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

 

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Fund. Information on the Fund’s investment performance was provided for the one-, two-, and three-year periods ended March, 2014, the quarter ended March 31, 2014 and since inception. The Directors considered the Fund’s investment performance in light of its investment objective and investment strategies. The Directors also considered the Fund’s investment performance as compared to peer funds, noting that the investment performance of the Fund was in the top quintile as compared to its Lipper peer group and Lipper universe for the one-, two-, and three-year periods ended February 28, 2014.

The Board also considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement, as discussed during the presentation made by Simple Alternatives. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. The Directors noted that the advisory fees, after waivers, of the Fund were higher than the Lipper peer group median, but noted the rationale provided by Simple Alternatives for the higher fee rate, such as the expense involved with managing a multi-manager product. In addition, the Directors noted that Simple Alternatives had contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses to limit total annual operating expenses to agreed upon levels for the Fund through December 31, 2014 to limit total annual operating expenses to agreed upon levels for the Fund. The Directors also considered the sub-advisory fees payable to each Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreements. In this regard, the Directors noted that the fees for each Sub-Adviser were payable by Simple Alternatives.

After reviewing the information regarding Simple Alternatives’ and the Sub-Advisers’ costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering the services to be provided by Simple Alternatives and each Sub-Adviser, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees to be paid by the Fund to Simple Alternatives and to be paid by Simple Alternatives to each Sub-Adviser were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreements should be approved and continued for additional one-year periods ending August 16, 2015.

 

31


S1 FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT

(UNAUDITED)

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (866) 882-1226\

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with
Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

 

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

           

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

 

Director

  1988 to present     Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommu- nications companies).
           

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None
           

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).
           

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).
           
Arnold M. Reichman 103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 DOB: 5/48   Chairman Director   2005 to present 1991 to present   Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None
           
Robert A. Straniere 103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 DOB: 3/41   Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

32


S1 FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with
Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

 

INTERESTED DIRECTORS 2

           

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

 

Director

  2012 to present     Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None
           

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).   23   None

 

33


S1 FUND

COMPANY MANAGEMENT (CONCLUDED)

(UNAUDITED)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with
Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

 

OFFICERS

           

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two 5 Christy Drive, Suite 208 Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer   President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present   President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of EIP Growth and Income Fund since 2005.   N/A   N/A
           

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A
           
Diane Drake 301 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 DOB: 7/67   Secretary   2014 to present     Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial Services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A
           
James G. Shaw 103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 DOB: 10/60   Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A
           
Michael P. Malloy One Logan Square, Ste. 2000 Philadelphia, PA 19103 DOB: 7/59   Assistant Secretary   1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A

 

  

*Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

  

1Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved a waiver of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

  

2Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

34


S1 FUND

PRIVACY NOTICE

(UNAUDITED)

S1 FUND

 

FACTS    WHAT DOES THE S1 FUND DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
   

Why?

   Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
   

What?

  

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

Social Security number

account balances

account transactions

transaction history

wire transfer instructions

checking account information

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

   

How?

   All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the S1 Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your information

  

Does the S1 Fund Share?    

  

Can you limit this             sharing?

     

For our everyday business purposes —

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

   Yes    No
     

For our marketing purposes —

to offer our products and services to you

   Yes    No
     

For joint marketing with other financial companies

   No    We don’t share
     

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your transactions and experiences

   No    We don’t share
     

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your creditworthiness

   No    We don’t share
     

For our affiliates to market to you

   No    We don’t share
     

For nonaffiliates to market to you

   No    We don’t share

 

   

Questions?

 

  

Call 1-866-882-1226 or go to www.S1FUND.com

 

 

35


S1 FUND

PRIVACY NOTICE

(UNAUDITED)

 

What we do     

How does the S1 Fund protect my    

personal information?

   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

How does the S1 Fund collect my

personal information?

  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

  open an account

  provide account information

  give us your contact information

  make a wire transfer

  tell us where to send the money

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?   

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

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

  affiliates from using your information to market to you

  sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

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

Definitions     
Affiliates   

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

  Our affiliates include S1 Fund’s investment adviser, Simple Alternatives, LLC, and each sub-adviser.

Nonaffiliates   

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

  The S1 Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing   

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

  The S1 Fund does not jointly market.

 

36


Investment Adviser

Simple Alternatives, LLC

90 Grove Street

Suite 205

Ridgefield, CT 06877

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, Suite 700

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


 

The

Schneider

Funds

 

of the RBB Fund, Inc.

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund

Schneider Value Fund

 

ANNUAL

REPORT

 

August 31, 2014

 

 

LOGO

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Funds. It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Funds.


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Fellow Shareholder:

This annual report for the Schneider Funds covers the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014.

U.S. equities registered very positive returns during the period as the U.S. economy continued to improve. Corporate earnings have risen and margins have expanded, the unemployment picture brightened and interest rates remained low. The Russell 3000 Index rose 24.7% while the yield on the key 10-year Treasury note remained below 3.0%.

Investor optimism was boosted in late 2013 as the Federal Reserve finally announced the specifics of the plan to end its ongoing quantitative easing program. The removal of the uncertainty surrounding the magnitude and timing of the wind-down provided a positive lift for equity investors, while the initial reaction from the bond market was negative and interest rates rose through year-end.

As we entered 2014, the equity and fixed income investors enjoyed positive performance as the markets generally ignored the increasing geopolitical risks and focused more on domestic economic issues. Indications that the U.S. economy is healing (i.e., the surge in new auto sales, higher consumer confidence and the elevated level of manufacturing activity) were reasons for investor optimism.

Overall, the U.S. equity market appears fairly valued. Stocks have traded in narrow ranges and most have met analysts’ expectations. There also has been a strong flow of funds towards Exchange Traded Funds and traditional index vehicles, which has decreased the level of liquidity in the market and has helped dampen volatility.

While the U.S. economy is slowly healing after a sluggish five-year recovery, the same cannot be said for most of the rest of the world. Europe is experiencing very slow growth. Germany is the only economy showing any strength and countries such as France, Spain and Portugal are all struggling to eke out at best 1.0% growth, although the painful shrinkage in bank loans appears to be over. While there is economic hope in Italy, where the Prime Minister is embarking on a pro-business agenda, the Japanese economy is struggling as domestic consumption has contracted in the face of higher sales taxes and an orchestrated devaluing of the yen has not helped boost exports as much as hoped.

China remains a key pivot point for global economic growth, and it continues to wrestle with a housing market experiencing dramatic overbuilding, unaffordable pricing and questionable non-bank financings. China’s economic growth still exceeds that of almost all other countries, but challenges remain as it continues its metamorphosis from a capital investment-driven economy to a consumer-driven economy. India looks poised to take over the Asian mantle of growth from China with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shedding the over-regulatory shackles from which the country historically suffers.

Geo-political issues have come to the forefront and are a growing influence in many markets, especially energy. Whether it is the potential destabilization of the world oil markets by the uprisings in the Middle East, or the reliance of Western Europe on Russian natural gas exports (delivered through Ukraine), energy has a renewed global focus and the level of uncertainty around it has escalated. Also, with the dramatic emergence of ISIS in major parts of Syria and Iraq, Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, governmental stability issues in Venezuela, Nigeria, and Libya, and the Iranian quest for nuclear weapons, the global energy supply, especially oil and natural gas, appears particularly vulnerable.

With improving business fundamentals, as well as the attractive valuations that our companies possess, we continue to have elevated upside expectations for our holdings. We are well positioned for positive market performance as economic growth continues and the discounted earnings potential and valuations of the stocks we own are recognized.

We appreciate your support and the confidence you have placed in us.

 

LOGO

Arnold C. Schneider III, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Schneider Capital Management

 

1


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund Annual Letter (as of 8/31/14)

The Small Cap Value Fund posted a return of 12.59% during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 and was below the return of its benchmark, the Russell 2000® Value Index. Security selection in the Financial Services and Producer Durables sectors were positive contributors to returns, while the overweight position and security selection in the coal industry and Technology sector detracted from performance.

In the Financial Services sector, regional and community banks are continuing to capitalize on the acceleration of the economic recovery. Lending activity has broadened to once cautious smaller-sized businesses, which are now investing in new plant and equipment, while consumer borrowings are rebounding after years of stagnation. While low interest rates have kept pressure on net interest margins (what banks can earn on their investments over and above what they must pay depositors), balance sheet expansion and cost-cutting initiatives have enabled banks to generate positive operating leverage. In addition, many of the extraordinary credit related expenses of recent years related to the residential mortgage and home equity loan markets are beginning to abate which will further bolster banks’ financial stability.

As interest rates eventually begin to rise, asset-sensitive banks should experience a significant improvement in their net interest income which will accelerate their earnings growth. There is also a growing trend of merger and acquisitions amongst smaller banks with the resulting combined organizations being better equipped to deal with increased compliance expenses. We believe that the overall improved health of the banks will soon allow them to return more capital to shareholders via increased dividends and/or share repurchases.

The domestic energy market continues its renaissance, helping reduce energy costs and providing a competitive advantage for U.S. manufacturing. The boom in production from fracking has driven natural gas prices lower, while the related success in the search for liquid oils has lessened our reliance on Middle East imports and reduced the volatility in oil prices. However, the robust natural gas and oil production levels have had a dampening effect on coal demand. Many utilities that normally would have committed to replenishing their coal inventories for the balance of 2014 and part of 2015 by now have elected to delay these decisions; instead they have relied on natural gas to meet any short-term spikes in demand. In addition, the vastly cooler-than-normal summer in the East and Upper Midwest has lessened energy demand, and rail delivery issues concerning Powder River Basin (PRB) coal have also conspired to further mute coal demand.

The reduced inventory of coal, coupled with average inventory levels for natural gas, would normally help support coal prices; however, the weather and other factors have truncated overall energy demand, including natural gas, and have helped suppress energy prices. The winter heating season is much more important than summer regarding the impact on pricing and demand, and with the expectations that the PRB rail issues will be resolved in the near future and the continuation of the economic recovery, the supportive fundamentals of the coal industry should lead to higher demand and improved pricing for coal.

 

2


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Concluded)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $20,000 Invested in

Schneider Small Cap Value Fund vs. Russell 2000® Value Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $20,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on September 2, 1998 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Russell 2000® Value Index is unmanaged, does not incur sales charges and/or expenses and is not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
     Average Annual  
     One Year     Five Years     Ten Years     Since
Inception*
 

Schneider Small Cap Value

    12.59%        14.09%        6.76%        14.74%   

Russell 2000® Value Index

    18.10%        15.74%        8.43%        10.10%   

* Inception date 9/2/98

                               

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Schneider Capital Management Company, the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or reimburse expenses through December 31, 2014, to the extent that total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed 1.15%. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no waiver or reimbursement of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-520-3277. The Fund’s gross and net annual operating expenses, as stated in the current prospectus, are 1.50% and 1.15%, respectively. Shares of the Fund not purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains and held less than one year are subject to a 1.75% redemption fee.

Small company stocks are generally riskier than large company stocks due to greater volatility and less liquidity.

Value investing involves the risk that the Fund’s investment in companies whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their underlying profitability, will not appreciate in value as anticipated.

 

3


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

Schneider Value Fund Annual Letter (as of 8/31/14)

The Schneider Value Fund posted a return of 22.83% during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 and was roughly in line with the return of its benchmark index, the Russell 1000® Value Index. Security selection in the hotel industry and the oil services industry were positive contributors to returns, while the overweight position and security selection in the coal industry and our underweight exposure to the Technology sector detracted from performance.

The housing move-up market continues to show strength but the first-time buyer market has stalled. Millennials, key participants in the first-time segment, have been negatively impacted by a lack of mortgage availability, under-employment and high student loan balances, all of which contributed to a multi-year period of much lower-than-normal new household formations. Prospectively, an improving job market, as well as potentially easier access to mortgage financing, will stimulate the first-time buyer market and further support the housing recovery.

The large money center banks recorded a strong first quarter of 2014, but sold off in the second quarter in reaction to weaker trading income and litigation costs. Regulators have significantly increased capital requirements for large banks who have responded by shedding assets and exiting businesses where they could not earn an adequate return. They have also been laser focused on expense management to help weather a challenging revenue environment, especially in their mortgage and trading businesses.

The money center banks often trade more on sentiment than fundamentals. As they continue to improve their expense management, rationalize their various business lines and see a decline in litigation costs, investors may come to appreciate the full value of these entities. In addition, when the Federal Reserve raises rates (mid year 2015 is the bond market’s expectation), banks’ profitability should dramatically improve as their net interest income increases.

In addition to our material positions in energy (coal and natural gas), banking and homebuilders, we have also found attractive opportunities in the hotel industry. Years of limited new construction in the U.S. and a strong recovery in travel for both business and leisure has pushed occupancy rates back to prior peak levels. Hotels, especially those in major urban locations, are now in the enviable position of being able to raise prices, all the while experiencing high occupancy rates. We believe that this supply/demand imbalance will not be cured in the short term, and we remain optimistic on the outlook for the industry.

 

4


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Concluded)

August 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $20,000 Investment in

Schneider Value Fund vs. Russell 1000® Value Index

 

LOGO

The chart assumes a hypothetical $20,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund made on September 30, 2002 and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is a professionally managed mutual fund while the Russell 2000® Value Index is unmanaged, does not incur sales charges and/or expenses and is not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the Periods Ended August 31, 2014   
     Average Annual  
     One Year     Five Years     Ten Years     Since
Inception*
 

Schneider Value

    22.83%        11.52%        4.35%        9.39%   

Russell 1000® Value Index

    24.43%        16.62%        8.23%        10.41%   

* Inception date 9/30/02

                               

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Schneider Capital Management Company, the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or reimburse expenses through December 31, 2014, to the extent that total annual fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceed 0.90%. Total returns shown include fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any; total returns would have been lower had there been no waiver or reimbursement of fees and expenses in excess of expense limitations. Returns shown include the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-888-520-3277. The Fund’s gross and net annual operating expenses, as stated in the current prospectus, are 1.55% and 0.90%, respectively. Shares of the Fund not purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains and held less than 90 days are subject to a 1.00% redemption fee.

Value investing involves the risk that the Fund’s investment in companies whose securities are believed to be undervalued, relative to their underlying profitability, will not appreciate in value as anticipated.

 

5


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Fund Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund(s), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund(s) and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six months from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying table for each Fund is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Schneider Small Cap Value Fund  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 962.30         $ 5.69   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,019.41           5.85   
     Schneider Value Fund  
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
       Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period*
 

Actual

   $ 1,000.00         $ 1,052.20         $ 4.66   

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00           1,020.67           4.58   

 

* Expenses are equal to an annualized six-month expense ratio of 1.15% for the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund and 0.90% for the Schneider Value Fund, which includes waived fees or reimbursed expenses, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period. The Fund’s ending account values on the first line in each table are based on the actual six-month total return for each Fund of -3.77% for the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund and 5.22% for the Schneider Value Fund.

 

6


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund:

 

     % of Net
Assets
    Value  

Common Stocks:

    

Savings & Loans

     11.0   $ 6,715,878   

Coal

     8.5        5,210,298   

Commercial Services

     8.4        5,129,314   

Telecommunications

     7.5        4,599,519   

Home Builders

     6.9        4,250,553   

Oil & Gas

     6.3        3,877,653   

Banks

     6.3        3,830,479   

Industrial

     4.8        2,915,309   

Healthcare — Services

     4.2        2,560,913   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     4.1        2,532,541   

Mining

     3.4        2,071,997   

Semiconductors

     3.2        1,967,549   

Retail

     3.0        1,835,061   

Insurance

     2.3        1,420,575   

Software

     2.0        1,248,097   

Miscellaneous Manfacturing

     1.6        960,711   

Machinery — Diversified

     1.5        944,853   

Electronics

     1.5        900,902   

Internet

     1.4        855,730   

Metals Fabricating

     1.4        839,409   

Healthcare — Products

     1.3        805,159   

Apparel

     0.9        533,037   

Real Estate

     0.3        208,400   

Diversified Financial Services

     0.0        5,196   

Securities Lending Collateral

     13.5        8,236,347   

Corporate Bonds

     2.6        1,618,774   

Exchange Traded Fund

     0.5        304,667   

Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets

     (8.4     (5,138,863
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

     100.0   $ 61,240,058   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

7


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund:

 

     % of Net
Assets
    Value  

Common Stocks:

    

Banks

     26.1   $ 9,323,252   

Oil & Gas

     15.5        5,533,449   

Insurance

     13.7        4,878,569   

Coal

     9.0        3,227,028   

Home Builders

     8.5        3,054,222   

Lodging

     5.8        2,087,899   

Leisure Time

     3.6        1,286,405   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     2.4        873,304   

IT Services

     1.3        464,088   

Aircraft

     1.3        448,775   

Office Products

     1.3        447,191   

Commercial Services

     1.2        421,160   

Mining

     0.6        220,083   

Aerospace & Defense

     0.6        218,096   

Automobile Manufacturers

     0.5        171,053   

Electric

     0.4        154,422   

Securities Lending Collateral

     2.7        979,230   

Exchange Traded Fund

     0.2        71,848   

Assets In Excess Of Other Liabilities

     5.3        1,895,579   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

     100.0   $ 35,755,653   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

8


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS — 91.8%

     

Apparel — 0.9%

     

Barry (R.G.) Corp.

     28,099       $ 533,037   
     

 

 

 

Banks — 6.3%

     

Dundee Corp., Class A *

     8,545         148,010   

First Horizon National Corp.

     200,238         2,434,894   

First United Corp. *

     100         841   

Intervest Bancshares Corp.

     31,040         297,363   

MainSource Financial Group, Inc.

     55,036         949,371   
     

 

 

 
     3,830,479   
     

 

 

 

Coal — 8.5%

     

Arch Coal, Inc. (a)

     884,409         2,697,447   

Peabody Energy Corp.

     158,240         2,512,851   
     

 

 

 
     5,210,298   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Services — 8.4%

     

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc. (a)

     197,208         1,991,801   

Ardmore Shipping Corp. (a)

     90,249         1,181,359   

Baltic Trading, Ltd. (a)

     23,225         136,331   

Hudson Global Inc. *

     218,698         844,174   

Insperity, Inc.

     11,151         329,066   

Stolt-Nielsen, Ltd.

     29,687         646,583   
     

 

 

 
     5,129,314   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.0%

  

  

NorthStar Asset Management Group, Inc. *

     281         5,196   
     

 

 

 

Electronics — 1.5%

     

Kemet Corp. *

     155,849         785,479   

Pulse Electronics Corp. *

     54,189         115,423   
     

 

 

 
     900,902   
     

 

 

 

Healthcare - Products — 1.3%

     

Orthofix International NV *

     23,744         805,159   
     

 

 

 

Healthcare - Services — 4.2%

     

Five Star Quality Care, Inc. *

     551,921         2,560,913   
     

 

 

 

Home Builders — 6.9%

     

LGI Homes, Inc. *

     8,228         157,319   

Meritage Homes Corp. *

     21,539         888,915   

Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A *

     161,508         3,204,319   
     

 

 

 
     4,250,553   
     

 

 

 

Industrial — 4.8%

     

FreightCar America, Inc.

     97,862         2,915,309   
     

 

 

 

Insurance — 2.3%

     

Assured Guaranty, Ltd.

     22,650         546,998   

First American Financial Corp.

     30,814         873,577   
     

 

 

 
     1,420,575   
     

 

 

 
     Shares      Value  

Internet — 1.4%

     

ModusLink Global Solutions, Inc. * (a)

     209,225       $ 855,730   
     

 

 

 

Machinery - Diversified — 1.5%

     

Intevac, Inc. *

     132,518         944,853   
     

 

 

 

Metals Fabricating — 1.4%

     

AM Castle & Co. *

     85,654         839,409   
     

 

 

 

Mining — 3.4%

     

Alumina Ltd. SP ADR *

     114,192         656,147   

Cameco Corp.

     12,250         239,733   

Thompson Creek Metals Co., Inc. *

     409,797         1,176,117   
     

 

 

 
     2,071,997   
     

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manfacturing — 1.6%

  

Orbotech, Ltd. *

     59,230         960,711   
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas — 6.3%

     

Swift Energy Co. * (a)

     202,530         2,298,716   

Willbros Group, Inc. *

     144,327         1,578,937   
     

 

 

 
     3,877,653   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate — 0.3%

     

Forestar Group, Inc. *

     10,420         208,400   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts — 4.1%

  

  

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (a)

     38,855         757,284   

Redwood Trust, Inc. (a)

     23,075         446,963   

Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.

     44,941         662,430   

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

     45,701         665,864   
     

 

 

 
     2,532,541   
     

 

 

 

Retail — 3.0%

     

Office Depot, Inc. *

     290,677         1,488,266   

Wet Seal Inc./The Class A *

     339,995         346,795   
     

 

 

 
     1,835,061   
     

 

 

 

Savings & Loans — 11.0%

     

Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. *

     221,750         3,865,103   

HomeStreet, Inc.

     121,376         2,207,829   

Pulaski Financial Corp.

     55,957         642,946   
     

 

 

 
     6,715,878   
     

 

 

 

Semiconductors — 3.2%

     

Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Ltd. *

     23,109         213,065   

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. *

     759,606         1,534,404   

SunEdison Semiconductor Ltd. *

     13,100         220,080   
     

 

 

 
     1,967,549   
     

 

 

 

Software — 2.0%

     

Avid Technology, Inc. *

     53,483         451,931   

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. *

     33,865         796,166   
     

 

 

 
        1,248,097   
     

 

 

 
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

9


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

Portfolio of Investments (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

     Shares      Value  

Telecommunications — 7.5%

     

Aviat Networks, Inc. *

     1,517,809       $ 2,382,960   

Comverse, Inc. *

     73,238         1,808,246   

UTStarcom Holdings Corp. *

     132,140         408,313   
     

 

 

 
        4,599,519   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $46,748,911)

        56,219,133   
     

 

 

 
     Par
(000)
        

CORPORATE BONDS — 2.6%

     

LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. CONV ‡
0.00%, 05/15/34

   $ 33         8,068   

Northstar Realty Finance Corp. CONV 3.00%, 09/30/14

     998         998,099   

RAIT Financial Trust CONV 7.00%, 04/01/31

     463         612,607   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
(Cost $1,461,099)

        1,618,774   
     

 

 

 
     Shares         

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND — 0.5%

     

Finance — 0.5%

     

iShares Russell 2000 Value Index Fund

     3,030         304,667   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUND
(Cost $291,588)

        304,667   
     

 

 

 
     Shares      Value  

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL — 13.5%

  

  

BlackRock Liquidity TempFund, Institutional Shares

     8,236,347       $ 8,236,347   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL
(Cost $8,236,347)

        8,236,347   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 108.4%
(Cost $56,737,945)

        66,378,921   
     

 

 

 

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS — (8.4)%

        (5,138,863
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

      $ 61,240,058   
     

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.
(a) All or a portion of the security is on loan. At August 31, 2014, the market value of securities on loan was $7,902,848.
Holding in default resolution. Value has been determined in good faith by or under the direction of The RBB Fund, Inc’s Board of Directors to be the estimated value of the future payouts under the default resolution. As of August 31, 2014, this holding amounted to $8,068 or 0.0% of net assets and is deemed illiquid by the Adviser pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures.
CONV Convertible
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Shares      Value  
     

COMMON STOCKS — 91.8%

     

Aerospace & Defense — 0.6%

     

Boeing Co. (The)

     1,720       $ 218,096   
     

 

 

 

Aircraft — 1.3%

     

Bombardier, Inc., Class B

     132,382         448,775   
     

 

 

 

Automobile Manufacturers — 0.5%

     

Navistar International Corp. *

     4,536         171,053   
     

 

 

 

Banks — 26.1%

     

Bank of America Corp.

     116,993         1,882,417   

Barclays PLC, SP ADR

     37,461         561,915   

Citigroup, Inc.

     38,439         1,985,374   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

     15,469         152,292   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     24,835         1,476,441   

KeyCorp

     6,482         88,220   

Regions Financial Corp.

     60,365         612,705   

SunTrust Banks, Inc.

     67,329         2,563,888   
     

 

 

 
        9,323,252   
     

 

 

 

Coal — 9.0%

     

Arch Coal, Inc. (a)

     319,307         973,886   

Consol Energy, Inc.

     17,249         694,790   

Peabody Energy Corp. (a)

     98,133         1,558,352   
     

 

 

 
        3,227,028   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Services — 1.2%

     

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc.

     41,699         421,160   
     

 

 

 

Electric — 0.4%

     

FirstEnergy Corp.

     4,510         154,422   
     

 

 

 

Home Builders — 8.5%

     

Lennar Corp., Class A

     29,365         1,150,521   

Taylor Morrison Home Corp., Class A *

     13,310         264,070   

Toll Brothers, Inc. *

     46,070         1,639,631   
     

 

 

 
        3,054,222   
     

 

 

 

Insurance — 13.7%

     

Allstate Corp., (The)

     15,366         944,855   

American International Group, Inc.

     23,510         1,317,971   

Assured Guaranty, Ltd.

     37,223         898,936   

First American Financial Corp.

     15,286         433,358   

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

     34,641         1,283,449   
     

 

 

 
        4,878,569   
     

 

 

 

It Services — 1.3%

     

Symantec Corp

     19,114         464,088   
     

 

 

 

Leisure Time — 3.6%

     

Carnival Corp.

     33,960         1,286,405   
     

 

 

 
     Shares      Value  
     

Lodging — 5.8%

     

Marriott International, Inc., Class A

     30,085       $ 2,087,899   
     

 

 

 

Mining — 0.6%

     

Alcoa, Inc.

     13,250         220,083   
     

 

 

 

Office Products — 1.3%

     

Office Depot, Inc. *

     87,342         447,191   
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas — 15.5%

     

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

     68,081         1,851,803   

Devon Energy Corp.

     12,765         962,736   

Weatherford International PLC. *

     109,098         2,584,532   

WPX Energy, Inc. *

     5,048         134,378   
     

 

 

 
        5,533,449   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts — 2.4%

  

  

Columbia Property Trust, Inc.

     9,731         249,795   

NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.

     33,685         623,509   
     

 

 

 
        873,304   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $23,669,501)

        32,808,996   
     

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND — 0.2%

     

Finance — 0.2%

     

iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

     700         71,848   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUND
(Cost $61,126)

        71,848   
     

 

 

 

SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL — 2.7%

  

  

BlackRock Liquidity TempFund, Institutional Shares

     979,230         979,230   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES LENDING COLLATERAL
(Cost $979,230)

        979,230   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 94.7%
(Cost $24,709,857)

        33,860,074   
     

 

 

 

ASSETS IN EXCESS OF OTHER LIABILITIES — 5.3%

        1,895,579   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

      $ 35,755,653   
     

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.
(a) All or a portion of the security is on loan. At August 31, 2014, market value of securities on loan was $932,295.
SP ADR Sponsored American Depositary Receipt.
 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

11


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Statements of Assets & Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

     Schneider
Small Cap
Value Fund
     Schneider
Value Fund
 

ASSETS

     

Investments, at value †^

   $ 66,378,921       $ 33,860,074   

Cash and cash equivalents

     3,238,778         2,847,003   

Receivables

     

Investments sold

     197,392         31,570   

Dividends and interest

     49,362         57,214   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     7,934         14,727   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     69,872,387         36,810,588   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

     

Payables

     

Securities lending collateral

     8,236,347         979,230   

Investments purchased

     183,101         919   

Capital shares redeemed

     100,000           

Investment adviser

     28,078         5,202   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     84,803         69,584   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     8,632,329         1,054,935   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 61,240,058       $ 35,755,653   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

     

Par value

   $ 3,037       $ 1,792   

Paid-in capital

     44,001,735         153,992,847   

Undistributed/accumulated net investment income/(loss)

     (7,188      96,249   

Accumulated net realized gain/(loss) from investments

     7,601,498         (127,485,452

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     9,640,976         9,150,217   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $    61,240,058       $ 35,755,653   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     3,037,339         1,791,751   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 20.16       $ 19.96   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

† Investment in securities, at cost

   $ 56,737,945       $ 24,709,857   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

^ Includes market value of securities on loan

   $ 7,902,848       $ 932,295   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

12


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Statements of Operations

For the Year Ended August 31, 2014

 

     Schneider
Small Cap
Value Fund
     Schneider
Value Fund
 

Investment Income

     

Dividends †

   $ 303,257       $ 404,310   

Securities Lending Income

     89,863         16,898   

Interest

     83,341         261   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment income

     476,461         421,469   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses

     

Advisory fees

     674,892         251,779   

Administration and accounting fees

     125,977         116,384   

Transfer agent fees

     68,292         60,902   

Professional fees

     47,638         37,368   

Custodian fees

     43,782         24,934   

Registration and filing fees

     31,271         22,010   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     22,420         20,768   

Insurance fees

     8,817         4,466   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     1,788         259   

Other expenses

     2,206         1,994   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

     1,027,083         540,864   

Less: waivers and reimbursements

     (250,637      (215,644
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

     776,446         325,220   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)

     (299,985      96,249   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) from investments

     

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

     

Investments

     13,970,629         4,990,523   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

     

Investments

     (5,113,247      2,227,340   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     8,857,382         7,217,863   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 8,557,397       $   7,314,112   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

† Net of foreign withholding taxes of

   $ (520    $ (1,757
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

13


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
     For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations:

     

Net investment income/(loss)

   $ (299,985    $ 270,584   

Net realized gain from investments

     13,970,629         11,809,927   

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments

     (5,113,247      6,471,148   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     8,557,397         18,551,659   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

     

Net realized capital gains

     (10,779,654        
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (10,779,654        
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     734,685         3,519,305   

Reinvestment of distributions

     9,110,476           

Redemption fees *

     14,213         13,608   

Shares redeemed

     (16,953,169      (14,219,434
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (7,093,795      (10,686,521
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase/(decrease) in net assets

     (9,316,052      7,865,138   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets:

     

Beginning of year

     70,556,110         62,690,972   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 61,240,058       $ 70,556,110   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed/accumulated net investment loss, end of year

   $ (7,188    $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share transactions:

     

Shares sold

     35,697         176,906   

Shares reinvested

     466,248           

Shares redeemed

     (813,574      (723,734
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in shares outstanding

     (311,629      (546,828
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* There is a 1.75% redemption fee on shares redeemed which have been held less than one year in the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund. The redemption fees are retained by the Fund for the benefit of the remaining shareholders and recorded as paid-in capital.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

14


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2014
     For the Year
Ended
August 31, 2013
 

Increase in net assets from operations:

     

Net investment income

   $ 96,249       $ 132,642   

Net realized gain from investments

     4,990,523         5,225,439   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments

     2,227,340         3,779,711   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     7,314,112         9,137,792   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

     

Net investment income

     (132,641      (339,819
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (132,641      (339,819
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital transactions:

     

Proceeds from shares sold

     165,688         425,034   

Reinvestment of distributions

     126,471         327,112   

Redemption fees *

             332   

Shares redeemed

     (5,590,418      (19,397,005
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (5,298,259      (18,644,527
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase/(decrease) in net assets

     1,883,212         (9,846,554
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets:

     

Beginning of year

     33,872,441         43,718,995   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 35,755,653       $ 33,872,441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income, end of year

   $ 96,249       $ 132,641   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share transactions:

     

Shares sold

     9,187         30,588   

Shares reinvested

     6,957         24,503   

Shares redeemed

     (300,652      (1,401,380
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in shares outstanding

     (284,508      (1,346,289
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* There is a 1.00% redemption fee on shares redeemed which have been held less than 90 days in the Schneider Value Fund. The redemption fees are retained by the Fund for the benefit of the remaining shareholders and recorded as paid-in capital.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

15


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding during each period, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

    For the Years Ended August 31,  
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Per Share Operating Performance

         

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 21.07      $ 16.09      $ 13.70      $ 13.19      $ 12.34   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)

    (0.09 )(1)      0.08 (1)      (0.11 )      (0.06     (0.11

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions

    2.63        4.90        2.49        0.56        1.01   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    2.54        4.98        2.38        0.50        0.90   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

         

Net investment income

                                (0.07

Net realized gains

    (3.45                            
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

    (3.45                          (0.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redemption fees

    (2)      (2)      0.01        0.01        0.02   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 20.16      $ 21.07      $ 16.09      $ 13.70      $ 13.19   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

    12.59 %      30.95     17.45     3.87     7.48
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

  $ 61,240      $ 70,556      $ 62,691      $ 69,698      $ 73,243   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets(4)

    1.15 %      1.15     1.15     1.15     1.15

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and expense reimbursements

    1.52 %      1.50     1.52     1.40     1.43

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets(4)

    (0.44 )%      0.38     (0.64 )%      (0.33 )%      (0.65 )% 

Portfolio turnover rate

    72.33 %      63.87     67.85     59.18     83.39

 

(1) Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(2) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) Reflects waivers and reimbursements.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

16


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

SCHNEIDER VALUE FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding during each period, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the respective periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

    For the Years Ended August 31,  
    2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Per Share Operating Performance

         

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 16.31      $ 12.77      $ 12.50      $ 11.72      $ 12.14   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

    0.05 (1)      0.10        0.10        0.07        0.08   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) from investments and foreign currency transactions

    3.67        3.58        0.23        0.80        (0.23
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    3.72        3.68        0.33        0.87        (0.15
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

         

Net investment income

    (0.07     (0.14     (0.06     (0.09     (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

    (0.07     (0.14     (0.06     (0.09     (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redemption fees

           (2)      (2)      (2)      (2) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 19.96      $ 16.31      $ 12.77      $ 12.50      $ 11.72   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment return(3)

    22.83 %      29.08     2.67     7.35     (1.30 )% 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio/Supplemental Data

         

Net assets, end of year (000’s omitted)

  $ 35,756      $ 33,872      $ 43,719      $ 67,940      $ 98,953   

Ratio of expenses to average net
assets
(4)

    0.90 %      0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and expense reimbursements

    1.50 %      1.55     1.28     1.07     1.03

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(4)

    0.27 %      0.39     0.63     0.31     0.52

Portfolio turnover rate

    44.34 %      53.08     55.87     67.80     79.30

 

(1) Calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(2) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(3) Total investment return is calculated by assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.
(4) Reflects waivers and reimbursements.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

17


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the 1940 Act, and for other purposes, and a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund (the “Small Cap Value Fund”) and the Schneider Value Fund (the “Value Fund”) (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”), which commenced investment operations on September 2, 1998 and September 30, 2002, respectively. As of the date hereof, each Fund offers Institutional Class shares.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

PORTFOLIO VALUATION — Each Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Funds are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Fixed Income securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days are valued using an independent pricing service. Fixed Income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Foreign securities are valued based on prices from the primary market in which they are traded, and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. Investments in other open-end investment companies are valued based on the NAV of the investment companies (which may use Fair Value Pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT — The inputs and valuations techniques used to measure fair value of the Funds’ investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

  •    Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

  •    Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

  •    Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

18


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

The following summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Funds’ investments carried at fair value:

Small Cap Value Fund

    

Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014

     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Common Stocks*

   $ 56,219,133       $ 56,219,133       $       $   

Corporate Bonds

     1,618,774                 1,610,706         8,068   

Exchange Traded Fund

     304,667         304,667                   

Securities Lending Collateral

     8,236,347         8,236,347                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 66,378,921       $ 64,760,147       $ 1,610,706       $ 8,068   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Value Fund

    

Total
Value as of
August 31, 2014

     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Common Stocks*

   $ 32,808,996       $ 32,808,996       $       $   

Exchange Traded Fund

     71,848         71,848                   

Securities Lending Collateral

     979,230         979,230                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 33,860,074       $ 33,860,074       $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

* Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for further details on portfolio holdings.

The fair value of a Fund’s bonds are generally based on quotes received from brokers of independent pricing services. Bonds with quotes that are based on actual trades with a sufficient level of activity on or near the measurement date are classified as Level 2 assets. Bonds that are priced using quotes derived from implied values, indicative bids, or a limited amount of actual trades are classified as Level 3 assets because the inputs used by the brokers and pricing services to derive the values are not readily observable.

Investments designated as Level 3 may include assets valued using quotes or indications furnished by brokers which are based on models or estimates and may not be executable prices. In light of the developing market conditions, Schneider Capital Management continues to search for observable data points and evaluate broker quotes and indications received for portfolio investments. Determination of fair values is uncertain because it involves subjective judgments and estimates not easily substantiated by auditing procedures.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Funds’ investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Funds may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require each Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents

 

19


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires a Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when a Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when a Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Small Cap Value Fund and the Value Fund.

USE OF ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT INCOME, AND EXPENSES — The Funds record security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued as earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gain are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. Each Fund estimates the components of distributions received that may be considered return of capital distributions or capital gain distributions. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family (in proportion to net assets). Expenses incurred for all of the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Funds.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION — Foreign securities and other foreign assets and liabilities are valued using the foreign currency exchange rate effective at the end of the reporting period. The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Cost of investments is translated at the currency exchange rate effective at the trade date. The gain or loss resulting from a change in currency exchange rates between the trade and settlement dates of a portfolio transaction is treated as a gain or loss on foreign currency. Likewise, the gain or loss resulting from a change in currency exchange rates, between the date income is accrued and paid, is treated as a gain or loss on foreign currency.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared, recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually to shareholders. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. TAX STATUS — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is each Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Funds consider liquid assets deposited into a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

OTHER — In the normal course of business, the Funds may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Funds in

 

20


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss for such claims is considered remote.

 

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Schneider Capital Management Company (“SCM” or the “Adviser”) serves as each Fund’s investment adviser. For its advisory services, SCM is entitled to receive 1.00% of the Small Cap Value Fund’s average daily net assets and 0.70% of the Value Fund’s average daily net assets, computed daily and payable monthly.

SCM has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent that total annual operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) of the Small Cap Value Fund and the Value Fund exceed 1.15% and 0.90%, respectively. In determining SCM’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest and taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, investment advisory fees and waivers of advisory fees were as follows:

 

     Gross Advisory Fees        Waivers        Net Advisory Fees  

Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 674,892         $ (250,637      $ 424,255   

Value Fund

     251,779           (215,644        36,135   

The Funds will not pay SCM at a later time for any amounts it may waive or any amounts that SCM has assumed.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Funds. For providing administration and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of each Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting services fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Funds’ transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimum monthly and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Funds. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Funds’ average daily gross assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

 

3. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors by the Funds during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $18,425. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Funds or the Company.

 

21


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

 

4. Investment in Securities

For the year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:

 

     Purchases        Sales  

Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 45,838,966         $ 62,515,704   

Value Fund

     14,787,191           19,924,565   

 

5. Federal Income Tax Information

The Funds have followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Funds to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Each Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Funds are subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Funds were as follows:

 

     Federal Tax
Cost
       Unrealized
Appreciation
       Unrealized
Depreciation
       Net Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 60,723,635         $ 13,395,617         $ (7,740,331      $ 5,655,286   

Value Fund

     28,563,353           10,931,430           (5,634,709        5,296,721   

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to short-term capital gains netted against operating loss, were reclassified among the following accounts:

 

     Undistributed Net
Investment
Income
       Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain/(Loss)
       Paid-In
Capital
 

Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 292,797         $ (292,797          

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

     Capital Loss
Carryforwards
    Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
     Undistributed
Long-Term Gains
     Unrealized
Appreciation
     Qualified
Late-Year
Losses
 

Small Cap Value Fund

   $      $ 536,527       $ 11,043,473       $ 5,655,286       $   

Value Fund

     (123,392,204     96,249                 5,296,721         (239,752

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate principally to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reportable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

 

22


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

 

             Ordinary
Income
       Long-Term
Gains
       Total  

Small Cap Value Fund

    2014         $ 3,741,955         $ 7,037,699         $ 10,779,654   
    2013                                 

Value Fund

    2014           132,641                     132,641   
    2013           339,819                     339,819   

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

Pursuant to federal income tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies, the Funds may elect to treat certain capital losses between November 1 and August 31 and late year ordinary losses ((i) ordinary losses between January 1 and August 31, and (ii) specified ordinary and currency losses between November 1 and August 31) as occurring on the first day of the following tax year. For the year ended August 31, 2014, any amount of losses elected within the tax return will not be recognized for federal income tax purposes until September 1, 2014.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Value Fund deferred to September 1, 2014, the following losses:

 

Late-Year
Ordinary
Loss Deferral

    

Short-Term
Capital
Loss Deferral

    

Long-Term
Capital
Loss Deferral

$    —

     $239,752      $    —

Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carry forwards as of August 31, 2014 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future capital gains distributions. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Funds are permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law.

As of August 31, 2014, the Funds had the following pre-enactment net capital loss carryforwards to offset future net capital gains, if any, to the extent provided by Treasury regulations. To the extent that these carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the gains that are offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

     August 31, 2016      August 31, 2017      August 31, 2018      August 31, 2019      Total  

Small Cap Value Fund

   $       $       $       $       $   

Value Fund

     2,338,216         75,945,572         42,948,995         2,159,421         123,392,204   

During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Value Fund utilized $4,270,037 of pre-enactment capital loss carry forwards.

As of August 31, 2014, the Funds did not have any post-enactment capital loss carryforwards.

 

6. Securities Lending

The Funds may make secured loans of their portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions to earn additional income and receive cash collateral equal to at least 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities, as marked to market each day that the NAV of the Funds is determined. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the lending agent will use its best effort to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts

 

23


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Notes to Financial Statements (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

under the security lending agreement. The Funds will pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with the loan of securities. Collateral is invested in short-term investments and the Funds will bear the risk of loss of the invested collateral. Securities lending will expose the Funds to the risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities. The market value of the securities on loan and collateral as of August 31, 2014 and the income received for the year ended August 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Fair Value of
Securities Loaned
       Fair Value
of Collateral
       Income Received
from Securities
Lending
 

Small Cap Value Fund

   $     7,902,848         $     8,236,347         $     89,863   

Value Fund

     932,295           979,230           16,898   

Securities lending transactions are entered into by each Fund under a Master Securities Lending Agreement (“MSLA”) which permits the Funds, under certain circumstances including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset amounts payable by the Funds to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and create one single net payment due to or from the Funds. The following table is a summary of each Fund’s open securities lending transactions which are subject to a MSLA as of August 31, 2014:

 

Securities Lending

   Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets
     Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities
     Net Amounts of
Assets Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
     Gross Amount Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
 
            Financial
Instruments1
    Cash
Collateral
Received
     Net
Amount
 

Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 7,902,848       $     —       $ 7,902,848       $ (7,902,848   $     —       $     —   

Value Fund

     932,295             —         932,295         (932,295         —             —   

 

1 

Amount disclosed is limited to the amount of assets presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Actual collateral received may be more than the amount shown.

 

7. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued and have determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

24


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. and Shareholders of the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund and the Schneider Value Fund:

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund and the Schneider Value Fund, separately managed portfolios of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Funds”) at August 31, 2014, the results of each of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at August 31, 2014 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 27, 2014

 

25


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

 

Certain tax information regarding the Funds are required to be provided to shareholders based upon each Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2014. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the tax character of distributions paid by the Funds were as follows:

 

     Ordinary Income
Dividend
     Long-Term
Capital Gain
Dividends
 

Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 3,741,955       $ 7,037,699   

Value Fund

     132,641           

Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends qualifying for the 15% dividend income tax rate is 15.00% for the Small Cap Value Fund and 100.00% for the Value Fund.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction is 16.73% for the Small Cap Value Fund and 100.00% for the Value Fund.

The percentage of qualified interest income related dividends not subject to withholding tax for non-resident aliens and foreign corporations is 0.11% for the Value Fund.

For the Small Cap Value Fund, the percentage of ordinary income distributions designated as qualified short-term gains pursuant to the American Job Creation Act of 2004 is 32.67%.

Because the Funds’ fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Funds, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Funds.

 

26


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Other Information

(Unaudited)

 

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 520-3277 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered the renewal of the investment advisory agreements between SCM and the Company (the “Advisory Agreements”) on behalf of the Funds at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreements for an additional one-year term. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreements reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement. In approving the Advisory Agreements, the Board considered information provided by the Adviser with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Advisory Agreements between the Company and SCM with respect to the Funds, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of SCM’s services provided to the Funds; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of SCM’s personnel providing those services; (iii) SCM’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) SCM’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) SCM’s soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) SCM’s current advisory fee arrangements with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) SCM’s compliance procedures; (viii) SCM’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Funds; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Funds; (x) a report prepared by Lipper comparing each Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of each Fund to the performance of its Lipper peer group; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of each Fund to the performance of its benchmark.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by SCM. The Directors concluded that SCM had substantial resources to provide services to the Funds and that SCM’s services had been acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Funds and SCM. Information on the Funds’ investment performance was provided since inception and for one-year, three-year, and five-year periods, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Directors noted that, for the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund, the Fund had outperformed its primary benchmark for the five-year and since inception periods, while underperforming its benchmark during the one- and three-year periods. Regarding the Schneider Value Fund’s performance, the Directors noted that, the Fund had outperformed its primary benchmark for the one-year period ended March 31, 2014, while underperforming its benchmark for the other periods. The Directors noted that the investment performance of Schneider Small Cap Value Fund was in the top quintile as

 

27


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Other Information (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

compared to the Lipper peer group and Lipper universe for the five-years ended February 28, 2014, and the Schneider Value Fund was in the top quintile as compared to the Lipper peer group for the one-year, two-year and five-year periods ended February 28, 2014. The Directors concluded that the investment performance of each of the Funds as compared to their respective benchmarks and Lipper peer groups was acceptable.

The Directors also considered the advisory fee rates payable by the Funds under the Advisory Agreements. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Funds and the Funds’ total operating expense ratios (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. The Directors noted that the advisory fees, after waivers, and actual total expenses of the Funds were all lower than their respective peer group medians. In addition, the Directors noted that SCM had contractually agreed to waive management fees and reimburse expenses through December 31, 2014 to the extent that total annual Fund operating expenses exceed 0.90% and 1.15% for the Schneider Value Fund and Schneider Small Cap Value Fund, respectively.

After reviewing the information regarding SCM’s costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering SCM’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Funds were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreements should be approved and continued for additional one-year periods ending August 16, 2015.

 

28


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Company Management

(Unaudited)

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 520-3277.

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
During Past
5 Years
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 7/33

  Director   1988 to present   Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present   Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present   Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present   Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 5/48

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to Present

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 3/41

  Director   2006 to present   Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

29


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,
and Date of Birth
  Position(s) Held
with Company
  Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served1
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director*
  Other
Directorships
Held by Director
During Past
5 Years
INTERESTED DIRECTORS2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 4/61

  Director   2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 4/38

  Director   1991 to present   Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).   23   None
OFFICERS

Salvatore Faia, JD,

CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208 Chadds Ford, PA 19317
DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer   President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to Present   President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000 Philadelphia, PA 19103
DOB: 7/59

  Assistant Secretary   1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A

 

* Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

30


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

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

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

•           Social Security number

•           account balances

•           account transactions

•           transaction history

•           wire transfer instructions

•           checking account information

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

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information   Do the Schneider Funds share?   Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes

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

  Yes   No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

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

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your transactions and experiences

  Yes   No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your creditworthiness

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

 

Questions?   Call (888) 520-3277 or go to www.schneidercap.com

 

31


THE SCHNEIDER FUNDS

Privacy Notice (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

What we do

 
 
How do the Schneider Funds protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How do the Schneider Funds collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

•           open an account

•           provide account information

•           give us your contact information

•           make a wire transfer

•           tell us where to send the money

 

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

•           sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

•           affiliates from using your information to market to you

•           sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions

Affiliates  

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

 

•           Our affiliates include Schneider Capital Management, the investment adviser to the Schneider Funds.

Nonaffiliates  

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

 

•           The Schneider Funds don’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. The Schneider Funds may share information with nonaffiliates that perform marketing services on our behalf.

Joint marketing  

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

 

•           The Schneider Funds do not jointly market.

 

32


[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]


Investment Adviser

Schneider Capital Management

460 E. Swedesford Road

Suite 1080

Wayne, PA 19087

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

 


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Class I Shares

ANNUAL REPORT

August 31, 2014

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund.

It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Fund.


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

August 31, 2014

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to provide you with this annual report for the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Fund”). In this report, you will find important financial information about the Fund, including a complete list of portfolio holdings.

Investment Philosophy and Process

Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM”) serves as the adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between SIAM and The RBB Fund, Inc. SIAM is wholly owned by GCIC Ltd., which is in turn wholly (and indirectly) owned by The Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotiabank”). Scotiabank is a leading financial services provider in over 55 countries and Canada’s most international bank. Scotiabank, through a team of more than 86,000 employees, offers a broad range of products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management, corporate and investment banking, to over 21 million customers.

SIAM was established to offer investment services to clients in the United States. Supported by a team of fundamental analysts, market strategists, economists and traders, the portfolio managers build high-conviction portfolios. SIAM offers its investment capabilities to investment companies, corporations, retirement plans, wealth advisors and charitable organizations.

The Fund is managed by Noah Blackstein, who seeks to identify companies demonstrating strong current or prospective earnings growth relative to the overall market and relative to the Fund’s peer group. A bottom-up approach is employed to construct a portfolio of companies that the Fund’s portfolio manager believes have the opportunity to become dramatically larger companies over time and generate attractive returns for shareholders. The portfolio manager’s investment efforts are based upon the following tenets:

  Earnings growth drives stock price performance;

  Discipline is essential for successful investing.

Performance Review

For the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2014, the Fund returned 20.17% versus a return of 26.29% for its benchmark, the Russell 1000® Growth Index, for the same period. The top five detractors to performance included Infoblox Inc., Pandora Media Inc., Tableau Software Inc., Splunk Inc. and the Fund’s lack of ownership in Apple Inc., which was a strong performer in the benchmark. The five largest contributors included positions in Illumina Inc., Facebook Inc., Netflix Inc., Zillow Inc. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

The Fund’s portfolio manager continues to focus on building a high-conviction portfolio with 20 to 30 stocks that he believes are today’s most compelling growth opportunities. At the end of the fiscal year, the Fund remained invested primarily in the Information Technology, Health Care and Consumer Discretionary sectors.

Thank you for your investment and confidence in the Fund. We appreciate the opportunity you’ve given us to assist you in meeting your investment goals. We are grateful for the trust you’ve placed in us and wish you all the best in the future.

Sincerely,

Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd.

Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to change and risk.

 

1


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Performance Data

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund vs. Russell 1000® Growth Index

 

LOGO

 

      Total Returns For the Periods Ended August 31, 2014

 

   Average Annual
      Eleven Months*      One Year      Three Year      Five Year      Since
Inception
       

Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund -
Class I Shares**

     10.62%          20.25%          16.42%          25.24%          26.41%         

Russell 1000® Growth Index***

     20.90%          26.29%          19.95%          17.82%          21.32%         

 

*

Not annualized.

 

**

The Fund operated as a series of Scotia Institutional Funds prior to the close of business on March 21, 2014 (the “Predecessor Fund”), at which time the Predecessor Fund was reorganized into the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Fund”), a newly created series of The RBB Fund, Inc. The fiscal year end of the Predecessor Fund was September 30. The performance shown for periods prior to March 21, 2014 represents the performance for the Predecessor Fund. While the Predecessor Fund commenced operations on March 31, 2009, the Predecessor Fund began investing consistent with its investment objective on April 1, 2009. The performance data includes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, consequently, the net asset value for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those net asset values may differ from the net asset values and returns for shareholder transactions.

 

***

Benchmark performance is from inception date of the Predecessor Fund only and is not the inception date of the benchmark itself.

Performance quoted is past performance and does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained by calling 1-888-572-0968.

Effective July 14, 2014, the Fund applies a 2.00% fee to the value of shares redeemed or exchanged within 60 days of purchase. This redemption fee is not reflected in the returns shown above. The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence.

The Fund’s total annual gross and net operating expenses, as stated in the current prospectus dated March 21, 2014, are 1.20% and 0.84%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class I Shares. These rates may fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. The Fund’s investment adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund through December 31, 2015 to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) do not exceed 0.84% (on an annual basis) of Class I’s average daily net assets (the “Expense Limitation”). The Expense Limitation shall remain in effect until December 31, 2015, unless the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. approves its earlier termination.

 

2


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Performance Data (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

The Fund is non-diversified and invests in a limited number of securities. As a result, the Fund’s investment performance may be more volatile, as it may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event than a fund that invests in a greater number of issuers.

From time to time the Fund may focus its investments in one or more specific economic sectors and may be subject to greater risk from downturns affecting a specific sector.

The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day causing price volatility.

The Russell 1000® Growth Index measures the performance of the large-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the large-cap growth segment. The index assumes the reinvestment of all dividends. The performance of an index assumes no transaction costs, taxes, management fees or other expenses. A direct investment in an index is not possible.

 

3


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Fund Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014 and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Examples for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Class I Shares
     Beginning Account Value
March 1, 2014
   Ending Account Value
August 31, 2014
   Expenses Paid
During Period*

Actual

   $1,000.00    $   953.80    $4.14

Hypothetical
(5% return before expenses)

   1,000.00      1,020.97      4.28

 

 

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized six month expense ratio of 0.84% for Class I Shares which includes waived fees and reimbursed expenses, multiplied by the average account value over the period multiplied by the number of days (184) in the most recent fiscal half year, then divided by 365 to reflect the one half year period. The Fund’s ending account value on the first line in the table is based on the annualized six month total investment return for the Fund as of August 31, 2014 of (4.62)% for Class I Shares.

 

4


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

 

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund.

 

                                                                                      Security Type/Sector Classification                                                                                      % of Net
    Assets    
        Value      

COMMON STOCKS:

    

 Information Technology

     48.6   $ 29,101,689   

 Health Care

     26.7        16,029,426   

 Consumer Discretionary

     25.9        15,540,641   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets

     (1.2     (748,256
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

     100.0   $ 59,923,500   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

5


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Number
  of Shares  
         Value      

COMMON STOCKSD - 101.2%

     

Consumer Discretionary — 25.9%

  

  

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.*

     4,150       $ 2,816,398   

Expedia, Inc.

     31,900         2,740,210   

Netflix, Inc.*

     5,500         2,627,020   

Priceline Group Inc/The*

     1,400         1,742,034   

Tesla Motors, Inc.*

     4,700         1,267,590   

Under Armour, Inc., Class A*

     42,900         2,932,644   

Zoe’s Kitchen, Inc.*

     48,500         1,414,745   
     

 

 

 
              15,540,641   
     

 

 

 

Health Care — 26.7%

     

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     14,800         2,505,492   

Biogen Idec, Inc.*

     9,900         3,396,096   

Celgene Corp.*

     20,300         1,928,906   

Illumina, Inc.*

     17,500         3,138,800   

Pacira Pharmaceuticals*

     24,400         2,641,544   

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*

     6,900         2,418,588   
     

 

 

 
        16,029,426   
     

 

 

 
     Number
  of Shares  
         Value      
Information Technology — 48.6%  

Facebook, Inc., Class A*

     45,700       $ 3,419,274   

LinkedIn Corp., Class A*

     8,700         1,964,025   

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*

     39,300         3,340,107   

Salesforce.Com, Inc.*

     39,800         2,351,782   

ServiceNow, Inc.*

     52,100         3,184,873   

Splunk, Inc.*

     23,000         1,240,298   

Stratasys Ltd.*

     20,600         2,471,176   

Tableau Software, Inc., Class A* .

     48,800         3,195,912   

Workday, Inc., Class A*

     37,600         3,424,232   

Yelp, Inc.*

     26,000         2,142,920   

Zillow, Inc., Class A*

     16,500         2,367,090   
     

 

 

 
              29,101,689   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $ 55,908,488)

   

     60,671,756   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 101.2%
(Cost $ 55,908,488)

   

     60,671,756   
     

 

 

 

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF
OTHER ASSETS - (1.2)%

   

     (748,256
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.0%

  

   $ 59,923,500   
     

 

 

 

 

 

D

More narrow industries are utilized for compliance purposes, whereas broad sectors are utilized for reporting purposes.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

6


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (Cost $55,908,488)

   $ 60,671,756   

Receivables for:

  

Investments sold

     1,199,490   

Capital shares sold

     112,883   

Receivable from Investment Adviser (See Note 2)

     11,275   

Dividends

     5,757   

Prepaid expenses

     18,907   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     62,020,068   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Due to custodian

     144,626   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     1,227,036   

Capital shares redeemed

     662,781   

Administration and accounting services fees

     27,633   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     34,492   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,096,568   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 59,923,500   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF

  

Par value

   $ 2,168   

Paid-in capital

     51,836,041   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments

     3,322,023   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     4,763,268   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 59,923,500   
  

 

 

 

CLASS I SHARES:

  

Net Assets applicable to Class I Shares

   $ 59,923,500   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     2,168,009   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering price per share

   $ 27.64   
  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

7


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Statements of Operations

 

 

    

Eleven Months

Ended
August 31, 2014*

  Year Ended
September 30,
            2013            

INVESTMENT INCOME

        

Dividends

     $ 24,074       $ 114,137  

Interest

       385         750  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total investment income

       24,459         114,887  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

EXPENSES

        

Advisory fees (Note 2)

       396,037         328,475  

Administration and accounting services fees (Note 2)

       67,224         52,208  

Shareholder servicing fees

       60,929         39,449  

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

       42,581         22,684  

Registration and filing fees

       26,101         21,811  

Audit fees

       21,298         23,332  

Legal fees

       19,948         11,420  

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

       16,684         12,025  

Custodian fees (Note 2)

       12,473         16,613  

Directors’ and officers’ fees

       10,302         15,897  

Insurance expense

       357         7,938  

Other expenses

       12,477         3,882  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

       686,411         555,734  

Less: waivers and reimbursements (Note 2)

       (174,307 )       (133,091)   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

       512,104         422,643  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment loss

       (487,645 )       (307,756)   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENTS

        

Net realized gain from:

        

Investments

       6,742,166         6,250,314  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investments

       (5,023,483 )       2,137,548  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

       1,718,683         8,387,862  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

     $   1,231,038       $ 8,080,106  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

*

The Fund changed its fiscal year end to August 31.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

8


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

For the

Eleven Months Ended
    August 31, 2014*      

 

For the

Year Ended
September 30, 2013

 

For the

Year Ended
September 30, 2012

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS
FROM OPERATIONS:

           

Net investment loss

    $ (487,645 )     $ (307,756 )     $ (381,385 )

Net realized gain/(loss) from investments

      6,742,166         6,250,314         (1,043,015 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments

      (5,023,483 )       2,137,548         9,789,429  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      1,231,038         8,080,106         8,365,029  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

           

Class I Shares

           

Net realized gains

      (5,671,518 )               (1,229,248 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

      (5,671,518 )               (1,229,248 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:

           

Class I Shares

           

Proceeds from shares sold

      55,361,805         28,465,703         47,526,366  

Reinvestment of distributions

      5,501,369                 1,173,610  

Shares redeemed

      (52,236,586 )       (39,815,730 )       (50,324,549 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

      8,626,588         (11,350,027 )       (1,624,573 )

Redemption fees**

                      164,042  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total increase/(decrease) in net assets

      4,186,108         (3,269,921 )       5,675,250  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

           

Beginning of period

      55,737,392         59,007,313         53,332,063  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 59,923,500       $ 55,737,392       $ 59,007,313  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss, end of period

    $       $       $ (258,037 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

           

Class I Shares

           

Shares sold

      1,975,436         1,273,440         2,197,931  

Shares reinvested

      210,700                 60,433  

Shares redeemed

      (2,048,881 )       (1,871,114 )       (2,462,837 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in shares

      137,255         (597,674 )       (204,473 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

*

The Fund changed its fiscal year end to August 31.

**

Prior to February 1, 2012, shares of the Fund redeemed within 90 days of purchase were charged a 2.00% redemption fee. Effective July 14, 2014, the Fund applies a 2.00% fee to the value of shares redeemed within 60 days of purchase.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

9


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the representative periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

    Class I Shares
    For the
Eleven Months Ended
August 31, 2014(1)(2) 
  For the
Year Ended
September 30, 2013
  For the
Year Ended
September 30, 2012
  For the
Year Ended
September 30, 2011
  For the
Year Ended
September 30, 2010
  For the
Period Ended
September 30, 2009(3)

Per Share Operating Performance

                       

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 27.45       $ 22.45       $ 18.83       $ 16.36       $ 12.32       $ 10.00  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment loss(4)

      (0.20 )       (0.14 )       (0.16 )       (0.16 )       (0.13 )       (0.05 )

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

      2.96         5.14         4.21         2.82         5.80         2.37  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from operations

      2.76         5.00         4.05         2.66         5.67         2.32  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

                       

Net investment income

                                      (0.23 )        

Net realized gains

      (2.57 )               (0.50 )       (0.24 )       (1.40 )        
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

      (2.57 )               (0.50 )       (0.24 )       (1.63 )        
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Redemption fees added to paid-in capital(4)

                      0.07         0.05         (5)        
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 27.64       $ 27.45       $ 22.45       $ 18.83       $ 16.36       $ 12.32  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total investment return(6)

      10.62 %(7)(8)       22.27 %       22.31 %       16.54 %       49.82 %       23.20 %(7)
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

                       

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

    $ 59,924       $ 55,737       $ 59,007       $ 53,332       $ 10,319       $ 616  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements

      0.84 %(9)       0.86 %       0.95 %       0.95 %       0.95 %       0.95 %(9)

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and reimbursements

      1.13 %(9)       1.13 %       1.25 %       1.32 %       6.14 %       30.21 %(9)

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets.

      (0.80 )%(9)       (0.63 )%       (0.75 )%       (0.80 )%       (0.90 )%       (0.83 )%(9)

Portfolio turnover rate

      276.74 %(7)       345.12 %       323.54 %       358.15 %       244.38 %       205.10 %(7)

 

(1)

The Fund changed its fiscal year end to August 31.

(2)

Effective as of the close of business on March 21, 2014, the Fund acquired all the assets and liabilities of the Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (“Predecessor Fund”), a series of Scotia Institutional Funds. The financial highlights for the period to that date reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund.

(3)

The Fund commenced investment operations on March 31, 2009.

(4)

The selected per share data was calculated based on average shares outstanding method for the period.

(5)

Amount represent less than $0.005 per share.

(6)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(7)

Not annualized.

(8)

Includes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, consequently, the net asset value for financial reporting purposes and the returns based upon those net asset values may differ from the net asset values and returns for the shareholder transactions.

(9)

Annualized.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

10


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “Investment Company Act”) as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the Investment Company Act, and for other purposes, and, a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund is authorized to issue three classes of shares, Institutional Shares, Class I Shares and Class II Shares. As of August 31, 2014, Institutional Shares and Class II shares were not yet being offered to the public.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio. The Fund has issued shares with a par value of $0.001.

Before the Fund commenced operations, all of the assets and liabilities of the Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of Scotia Institutional Funds, were transferred to the Fund in a tax-free reorganization (the “Reorganization”). The Reorganization occurred at the close of business on March 21, 2014. The Predecessor Fund commenced operations on March 31, 2009. As a result of the Reorganization, the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund was assumed by the Fund. Performance and accounting information prior to the close of business on March 21, 2014 included herein is that of the Predecessor Fund. See Note 7 for additional information on the Reorganization.

The fiscal year end of the Predecessor Fund was September 30. The Fund changed its year end to August 31 to reflect the year end of the other series of the Company.

Portfolio Valuation– The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Investments in other open-end investment companies, if any, are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as disclosed in their prospectuses). If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

 

11


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Measurements – The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

• Level 1 —  

quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

• Level 2 —  

other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

• Level 3 —  

significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:

 

     Total Value at
August 31,
2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
     Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Investments in Securities*

   $ 60,671,756       $ 60,671,756             $ —                   $ —         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

* Please refer to Portfolio of Investments for further details.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the eleven month period ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Fund.

 

12


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

Investment Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses — The Fund records security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The Fund’s policy is to allocate investment income, expenses and unrealized and realized gains and losses among classes on a daily basis, when applicable. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family of the Company are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred for all the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid at least annually to shareholders and recorded on ex-dividend date. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. Tax Status — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is the Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Fund considers liquid assets deposited into a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

Redemption Fees — On May 13, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the imposition of a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares held less than 60 days effective on July 14, 2014. The fees will be reflected on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. The Fund reserves the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fee or any waivers of such fee at any time.

Other — In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

 

13


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Scotia Institutional Asset Management US, Ltd. (“SIAM” or the “Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. For its advisory services, the Adviser is entitled to receive a fee calculated daily and payable monthly at an annual rate 0.65% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

Prior to March 21, 2014, Scotia Institutional Investments US, LP (formerly DundeeWealth US, LP) (“SII US”) served as adviser to the Predecessor Fund and SIAM served as a sub-adviser to the Predecessor Fund. SII US was entitled to an advisory fee from the Predecessor Fund at the same rate payable to SIAM as Adviser to the Fund. SII US, not the Predecessor fund, paid a sub-advisory fee to SIAM.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) exceed 0.74% for Institutional Shares, 0.84% for Class I Shares and 0.99% for Class II Shares (Institutional Shares and Class II Shares have not commenced operations as of August 31, 2014) until December 31, 2015. Prior to such date, this contractual agreement may only be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Directors. If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest) to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. Prior to March 21, 2014, SII US contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to the extent necessary to limit the total annual operating expenses to a specified percentage of the Predecessor Fund’s average daily net assets.

As of August 31, 2014, the amount of the Adviser’s potential recovery was as follows:

 

Expiration

August 31, 2017

$109,821

As of August 31, 2014, the Adviser earned fees of $186,594 for the period from March 24, 2014 through August 31, 2014. For the period March 24, 2014 through August 31, 2014, the Adviser waived fees of $109,821. For the period from October 1, 2013 through March 21, 2014, SII US earned advisory fees of $209,443 and waived fees of $64,486. SII US is no longer eligible to recover any amounts previously waived or reimbursed.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Fund. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing these transfer and dividend disbursing agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Fund. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily gross assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

 

14


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC, serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

3. Shareholder Servicing Plan

The Fund has adopted a Class I Shareholder Services Plan. Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund may pay service fees to firms that provide shareholder services, such as responding to shareholder inquiries and assisting shareholders with their accounts, not exceeding ten basis points (0.10%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class I Shares.

4. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The remuneration paid to the Trustees by the Predecessor Fund for the period October 1, 2014 through March 21, 2014 was $8,074. For the period March 24, 2014 through August 31, 2014, the remuneration paid to the Directors by the Fund was $2,448. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Fund or the Company.

5. Investment in Securities

For the eleven months ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Fund were as follows:

 

                   
       Purchases      Sales  
 

Investment Securities

   $ 179,815,952       $ 173,012,675   

6. Federal Income Tax Information

The Fund has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Fund to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Fund is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, the federal tax cost and aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Fund were as follows:

            
 

Federal tax cost

   $ 57,182,279   
    

 

 

 
 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 5,608,903   
 

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (2,119,426
    

 

 

 
 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 3,489,477   
    

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders, if any, from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such

 

15


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to redesignation of net investment loss, were reclassified among the following accounts:

 

Undistributed

Net Investment

Income

   Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain/(Loss)
  Paid-In
Capital
$487,645    $(487,645)   $—

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

Ordinary Income

   Undistributed Long-Term Gains    Net Unrealized Appreciation
$1,974,975    $2,620,839    $3,489,477

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate primarily to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes. Short-term and foreign currency gains are reported as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the eleven month period ended August 31, 2014, fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 and fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 were as follows:

 

 

   Ordinary Income      Long-Term Gains  
2014    $ 3,859,576       $ 1,811,942   
2013    $       $   
2012    $ 1,229,248       $   

Accumulated capital losses represent net capital loss carry forwards as of August 31, 2014 that may be available to offset future realized capital gains and thereby reduce future capital gains distributions. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Any losses incurred during those future taxable years will be required to be utilized prior to any losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

7. Reorganization

At a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on March 14, 2014, shareholders of the Predecessor Fund approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which the assets and identified liabilities of the Predecessor Fund were transferred to the Fund in exchange for Class I shares of the Fund. The closing of the Reorganization, which was a tax-free transaction, took place at the close of business on March 21, 2014.

                        
 

              Predecessor Fund

(Series of Scotia Institutional Funds)

  

Acquiring Fund

(Series of RBB Funds)

   Net Assets      Shares
Outstanding
 
 

Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund Class I

   Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund Class I      93,463,746         3,403,112   

 

16


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

8. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

17


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders of Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund and Board of Directors of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund (formerly known as Dynamic U.S Growth Fund, a series of shares of beneficial interest in the Scotia Institutional Funds Trust), a series of shares of common stock in The RBB Fund, Inc., including the portfolio of investments, as of August 31, 2014, and the related statements of operations, changes in net assets and the financial highlights for the eleven months then ended and for the period March 31, 2009 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2009. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audit. The statement of operations for the year ended September 30, 2013 and the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended September 30, 2013 and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2013 have been audited by other auditors, whose report dated November 25, 2013, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial statements and financial highlights. The financial highlights for the year ended September 30, 2010, were audited by other auditors, whose report dated November 26, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial highlights.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2014 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund as of August 31, 2014, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets for the eleven months ended and its financial highlights for the eleven months then ended and for the period March 31, 2009 to September 30, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

BBD, LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 24, 2014

 

LOGO

 

18


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

 

Certain tax information is required to be provided to shareholders based upon the Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable period ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ending December 31, 2014. During the fiscal period ended August 31, 2014, the Fund paid $3,859,576 of ordinary income dividends and $1,811,942 of long-term capital gain dividends to its shareholders. Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends qualifying for the 15% dividend income tax rate is 2.95%.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends paid qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction is 5.71%.

The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distributions as qualified short-term gain pursuant to the American Job Creation Act of 2004.

Because the Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Fund, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

 

19


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Other Information

(Unaudited)

Change In Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

As a result of the reorganization of the Predecessor Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund, a series of Scotia Institutional Funds (the Predecessor Fund), into a newly created series of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the Company) at the close of business on March 21, 2014, KPMG LLP resigned as principal accountants for the Predecessor Fund on March 25, 2014. The Board of Directors of the Company, upon the recommendation of the Company’s audit committee, selected BBD, LLP as principal accountants of the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund.

During the two fiscal years ended September 30, 2013, and the subsequent interim period through March 25, 2014, there were no (1) disagreements with KPMG LLP on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreements, or (2) reportable events.

The audit reports of KPMG LLP on the financial statements of the Predecessor Fund as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 572-0968 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company will file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Forms N-Q will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

20


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Company Management

(Unaudited)

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (888) 572-0968.

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

  

Position(s)
Held

with Company  

  

  Term of Office      

    and Length of      
  Time Served 1      

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of  
Portfolios in  
Fund Complex  
Overseen by  

Director*  

  

Other Directorships
Held

by Director

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

   Director    1988 to present    Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.    23    AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

   Director    2002 to present    Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.    23    None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

   Director    2012 to present   

Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

(investment banking/brokerage).

   23   

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and

Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

   Director    2006 to present    Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.    23   

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington

Funds

(registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company)

(until March 2012)

;Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp.

(producer of medical devices).

 

21


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Company Management (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

  

Position(s)

Held

with Company  

  

  Term of Office    

  and Length of    

  Time Served 1    

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of  

Portfolios in  

Fund Complex  
Overseen by  
Director*  

  

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

           

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

   Chairman Director    2005 to present 1991 to present   

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.

 

   23    None
           

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

   Director    2006 to present   

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.

 

   23    Reich and Tang Group (asset management).

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

  

Position(s)  

Held

with Company  

  

  Term of Office    

  and Length of    

  Time Served 1    

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of  

Portfolios in  

Fund Complex  
Overseen by  
Director*  

  

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

 

INTERESTED DIRECTORS 2

 

           

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

   Director    2012 to present    Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.    23    None
           

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

   Director    1991 to present   

Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

   23    None

 

22


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

  Position(s)
Held
with Company  
  Term of Office    
and Length of    
Time Served 1    
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of  
Portfolios in  
Fund Complex  
Overseen by  
Director*  
  Other
Directorships
Held
by Director

OFFICERS

 

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer  

President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present

 

  President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present  

Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

  N/A   N/A

Diane Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present  

Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.

 

  N/A   N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present  

Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

  N/A   N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

  Assistant Secretary   1999 to present  

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).

 

  N/A   N/A

 

*

Each Director oversees twenty-three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs. Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

2 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

23


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

FACTS         WHAT DOES THE SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Why?

  

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

  

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

•  Social Security number

•  account balances

•  account transactions

•  transaction history

•  wire transfer instructions

•  checking account information

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

How?

  

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

 

Reasons we can share your information               

Does the Scotia Dynamic

U.S. Growth Fund Share?    

  Can you limit this sharing?
     

For our everyday business purpose

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

 

  Yes   No
     

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

 

  No   We don’t share
     

For joint marketing with other financial companies

 

  No   We don’t share
     

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your transactions and experiences

 

  Yes   No
     

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your creditworthiness

 

 

  No   We don’t share
     

For our affiliates to market to you

 

  No   We don’t share
     

For nonaffiliates to market to you

 

  No   We don’t share

 

   

Questions?

 

 

Call 1-888-572-0968 or go to us.scotiafunds.com

 

 

24


SCOTIA DYNAMIC U.S. GROWTH FUND

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

What we do    
   

How does the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund protect my personal information?

 

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

   

How does the Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund collect my personal information?

 

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

•  open an account

•  provide account information

•  give us your contact information

•  make a wire transfer

•  tell us where to send the money

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

   
Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

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

•  affiliates from using your information to market to you

•  sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

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

Definitions    
   
Affiliates  

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

•  Our affiliates include companies such as Scotia Institutional Investments US, LP and Hollis Wealth Inc.

   
Nonaffiliates  

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

•  Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

   
Joint marketing  

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

•  Scotia Dynamic U.S. Growth Fund doesn’t jointly market.

 

 

25


Investment Adviser

Scotia Institutional Asset Management U.S., Ltd.

1 Adelaide St. E., Ste. 2800,

Toronto, ON M5C 2V9

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

BBD, LLP

1835 Market Street, 26th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Legal Counsel

Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996


 

LOGO

SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Class I Shares

ANNUAL REPORT

August 31, 2014

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund.

It is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for the Fund.


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

Dear Shareholder:

We recognize the confidence you have placed in us and are continually grateful to work with you. It enables all of us at Summit Global Investments to do what we love and enjoy everyday, managing equities. One constant involved in investing is that the equity markets often behave in a contrarian manner. At Summit, we realize that ultimately the markets behavior rewards those who carefully manage the risk in the markets.

We firmly believe that investing with a long-term, risk-return perspective is key to experiencing superior risk-adjusted returns. While staying the course with a low volatility portfolio doesn’t eliminate risk, it can considerably lessen the effect of the market gyrations.

Strategists are starting to give more attention to “Smart Beta” or “Factor Investing” strategies. Summit’s investment approach to portfolio construction takes into consideration a multitude of factors that ultimately help drive the price of equities. We sincerely value and believe strongly that return and risk must coincide and be effectively managed together. Investing in risk-adjusted returns must become more common and we are just now hearing a little more about these ideas. Investing in cap-weighted indexes, higher risk strategies, products or markets just for exposure without regard of the investment’s return seems unwarranted.

Investing for return must always be weighed against the risk of the investments. As such, we continually look to be efficient and effective in providing shareholders with superior risk-adjusted equity returns.

Since our last letter to shareholders dated February 28, 2014, U.S. equities continued to experience overall gains. Volatility picked up in April and as of August appears to be gaining strength. The market over the past two full fiscal years has not experienced much volatility. From our research, the indications are that volatility is now increasing. Even through this run up in volatility, the markets have experienced record highs, doing so amidst both debt issues and varied U.S. economic data.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund’s shares rose 18.57% vs. 22.68% for the S&P 500® Index. Risk-adjusted1, the index rose 15.88%, thus the Fund outperformed the index by 2.69%. The beta2 for the Fund, as of August 31, 2014, was 0.70. The Fund benefited from its over-allocation to the Health Care sector and under-allocation to the Energy, Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors. Poor stock selection in Consumer Discretionary detracted most from performance, while good stock selection in Industrials contributed to Fund performance.

We continue to reiterate that large market events are being driven more and more by world events than ever before. U.S. markets do not stand alone, isolated from the world. U.S. companies are global companies. Their revenue and profits, business plans and investments, and ultimately success or failure is more correlated to global events than ever in history. As such, companies must be as strong or stronger, balance sheet wise, than the country in which they are headquartered. We must keep an eye on such events and company strength throughout the coming months and years.

In addition to global and political events, companies are unique in how each prepares, responds and survives the impact of such macro events and economic cycles. While some cycles may vary in length and events differ in impact, we believe, for U.S. equity exposure, the Fund’s approach is effective over full market cycles.

Our philosophy to navigate such markets is simple and consistent throughout up and down markets. We believe that being invested in a low volatility equity portfolio over full market cycles provides lower price fluctuations, more consistent and reliable returns with smaller drawdowns, and adds increased diversification when combined with other investment strategies. Our approach takes into account each underlying company’s stock volatility, expected market return and how it correlates with other stocks within the portfolio, ultimately seeking to maximize return with an overall lower risk than a cap-weighted benchmark. As stated in the prospectus, the Fund seeks to outperform the S&P 500® Index over a full market cycle while reducing overall volatility.

Financial markets are always unpredictable but there are several time-tested investment principles that may help put the odds in your favor. It is our sincere effort to follow such principles and provide long-term, risk-adjusted returns.

 

1


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Continued)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

While we remain optimistic about the opportunities within the U.S. equity market, we remain focused on monitoring the risk of individual companies and the overall portfolio. During these times of continued uncertainty, we believe, for U.S. equity exposure, the Fund approach is warranted.

Sincerely,

Summit Global Investments, LLC

1Risk-adjusted returns are simply taking the return of the index and multiplying that index by the beta of the Fund.

2Beta means a measure of a security’s or portfolio’s volatility. A beta of 1 means that the security or portfolio is neither more nor less volatile or risky than the wider market. A beta of more than 1 indicates greater volatility and beta of less than 1 indicates less volatility.

 

2


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

Comparison of Change in Value of $1,000,000 Investment in Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equtity

Fund - Class I Shares

vs. S&P 500®Index

 

LOGO

This chart assumes a hypothetical $1,000,000 minimum initial investment in the Fund’s Class I Shares made on February 29, 2012 (commencement of operations) and reflects Fund expenses. Investors should note that the Fund is an actively managed mutual fund while the S&P 500® Index is unmanaged, does not incur expenses and is not available for investment.

 

Total Returns for the periods ended August 31, 2014  
      Average Annual  
             Since  
      One Year      Inception*  

Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility

       

    Equity Fund - Class I Shares

     18.57%         15.08%   

S&P 500® Index**

     22.68%         16.53%   

 

*

The Fund commenced operations on February 29, 2012.

 

**

Benchmark performance is from inception date of the Fund only and is not the inception date of the benchmark itself.

Performance quoted is past performance and does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher. Returns shown do not reflect taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the redemption of Fund shares. Performance data current to the most recent month-end may be obtained by calling (855) 744-8500.

The Fund applies a 1.50% fee to the value of shares redeemed within 60 days of purchase. This redemption fee is not reflected in the returns shown above. The performance quoted reflects fee waivers in effect and would have been less in their absence. The Fund’s total annual gross and net operating expenses, as stated in the current prospectus dated December 31, 2013, are 2.74% and 0.98%, respectively, of average daily net assets for Class I Shares. These rates may fluctuate and may differ from the actual expenses incurred by the Fund for the period covered by this report. The Fund’s investment adviser has contractually agreed to waive management fees and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund through December 31, 2014 to the extent necessary to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes) do not exceed 0.98% (on an annual basis) of the Fund’s average daily net assets (the “Expense Limitation”). The Expense Limitation shall remain in effect until December 31, 2014, unless the Board of Directors of The RBB Fund, Inc. approves its earlier termination.

The Fund invests in common stock, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock and securities convertible into common stock. Portfolio composition is subject to change.

 

3


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Annual Investment Adviser’s Report (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

The Fund evaluates performance as compared to that of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index (“S&P 500®”). The S&P 500® is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of 500 common stocks which are generally representative of the U.S. stock market as a whole. It is impossible to invest directly in an index.

 

4


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Fund Expense Examples

(Unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

These examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period from March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014 and held for the entire period.

Actual Expenses

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

Hypothetical Examples for Comparison Purposes

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the accompanying table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the accompanying table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Class I Shares
     Beginning Account Value    Ending Account Value    Expenses Paid
     March 1, 2014    August 31, 2014    During Period*

Actual

   $1,000.00    $1,076.90    $5.13

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     1,000.00      1,020.27     4.99

 

 

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized six month expense ratio of 0.98% for Class I Shares which includes waived fees and reimbursed expenses, multiplied by the average account value over the period multiplied by the number of days (184) in the most recent fiscal half year, then divided by 365 to reflect the one half year period. The Fund’s ending account values on the first line in the table is based on the actual six month total investment return for the Fund of 7.69% for Class I Shares.

 

5


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Portfolio Holdings Summary Table

August 31, 2014

(Unaudited)

The following table presents a summary by sector of the portfolio holdings of the Fund.

 

     % of Net        

Security Type/Sector Classification

       Assets         Value  

COMMON STOCKS:

    

Pharmaceuticals

     11.7   $ 7,077,088   

Electric

     11.0        6,655,199   

Retail

     9.7        5,856,157   

Computers

     8.6        5,199,336   

Food

     8.5        5,100,935   

Healthcare-Services

     6.1        3,659,370   

Telecommunications

     5.4        3,267,887   

Oil & Gas

     4.4        2,653,221   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     3.9        2,331,435   

Banks

     3.4        2,046,010   

Household Products/Wares

     3.3        1,963,742   

Pipelines

     2.7        1,636,311   

Environmental Control

     2.6        1,567,984   

Semiconductors

     2.4        1,428,926   

Healthcare-Products

     2.3        1,382,884   

Insurance

     2.0        1,184,568   

Software

     1.9        1,118,720   

Commercial Services

     1.3        772,196   

Transportation

     1.2        709,907   

Media

     1.1        670,316   

Cosmetics/Personal Care

     0.8        504,430   

Internet

     0.5        293,366   

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

     0.4        257,722   

Savings & Loans

     0.2        129,916   

Diversified Financial Services

     0.2        125,542   

Airlines

     0.1        72,983   

Machinery-Construction & Mining

     0.1        55,626   

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

     4.2        2,544,510   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

     100.0   $ 60,266,287   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

6


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Portfolio of Investments

August 31, 2014

 

     Number         
     of Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS - 95.8%

     

Airlines — 0.1%

     

Southwest Airlines Co.

     2,280       $ 72,983   
     

 

 

 
        72,983   
     

 

 

 

Banks — 3.4%

     

US Bancorp

     40,800           1,725,024   

Wells Fargo & Co.

     6,240         320,986   
     

 

 

 
        2,046,010   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Services — 1.3%

     

Cintas Corp.

     3,480         230,167   

Total System Services, Inc.

     15,330         482,282   

Western Union Co., (The)

     3,420         59,747   
     

 

 

 
        772,196   
     

 

 

 

Computers — 8.6%

     

Apple, Inc.

     10,290         1,054,725   

EMC Corp.

     49,130         1,450,809   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

     45,500         1,729,000   

International Business Machines Corp.

     2,930         563,439   

NetApp, Inc.

     9,520         401,363   
     

 

 

 
        5,199,336   
     

 

 

 

Cosmetics/Personal Care — 0.8%

     

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

     1,540         99,684   

Procter & Gamble Co., (The)

     4,870         404,746   
     

 

 

 
        504,430   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.2%

     

CME Group, Inc.

     1,640         125,542   
     

 

 

 
        125,542   
     

 

 

 

Electric — 11.0%

     

CMS Energy Corp.

     2,740         83,680   

DTE Energy Co.

     1,690         132,243   

Duke Energy Corp.

     9,690         716,963   

Edison International

     22,230         1,314,682   

Exelon Corp.

     16,320         545,414   

FirstEnergy Corp.

     1,680         57,523   

PG&E Corp.

     1,240         57,635   

Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

     1,030         58,659   

PPL Corp.

     22,580         781,945   

SCANA Corp.

     2,860         148,548   

Southern Co. (The)

     3,470         154,068   

Wisconsin Energy Corp.

     15,260         691,736   

Xcel Energy, Inc.

     59,660         1,912,103   
     

 

 

 
        6,655,199   
     

 

 

 

Environmental Control — 2.6%

     

Republic Services, Inc.

     24,130         949,033   

Stericycle, Inc.*

     4,370         519,375   

Waste Management, Inc.

     2,120         99,576   
     

 

 

 
        1,567,984   
     

 

 

 
     Number         
     of Shares      Value  

Food — 8.5%

     

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

     33,500       $ 1,078,700   

General Mills, Inc.

     7,540         402,485   

Hershey Co., (The)

     1,660         151,757   

Hormel Foods Corp.

     18,220         923,390   

Kellogg Co.

     13,180         856,305   

McCormick & Co., Inc.

     7,740         539,401   

Sysco Corp.

     30,370         1,148,897   
     

 

 

 
          5,100,935   
     

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products — 2.3%

     

Baxter International, Inc.

     12,730         954,495   

CareFusion Corp.*

     2,200         101,002   

DENTSPLY International, Inc.

     1,190         56,769   

Medtronic, Inc.

     2,630         167,926   

Patterson Cos., Inc.

     1,030         41,478   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.*

     720         61,214   
     

 

 

 
        1,382,884   
     

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services — 6.1%

     

Aetna, Inc.

     16,310         1,339,540   

Cigna Corp.

     640         60,544   

Humana, Inc.

     520         66,945   

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

     6,110         386,213   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     19,170         1,661,656   

WellPoint, Inc.

     1,240         144,472   
     

 

 

 
        3,659,370   
     

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares — 3.3%

     

Clorox Co., (The)

     19,970         1,769,342   

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

     1,800         194,400   
     

 

 

 
        1,963,742   
     

 

 

 

Insurance — 2.0%

     

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*

     6,680         916,830   

Progressive Corp., (The)

     2,720         68,054   

Torchmark Corp.

     900         49,095   

Travelers Cos, Inc., (The)

     1,590         150,589   
     

 

 

 
        1,184,568   
     

 

 

 

Internet — 0.5%

     

VeriSign, Inc.

     5,140         293,366   
     

 

 

 
        293,366   
     

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining — 0.1%

     

Caterpillar, Inc.

     510         55,626   
     

 

 

 
        55,626   
     

 

 

 

Media — 1.1%

     

News Corp., Class A*

     3,610         63,626   

Walt Disney Co., (The)

     6,750         606,690   
     

 

 

 
        670,316   
     

 

 

 
 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

7


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Portfolio of Investments (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

     Number         
     of Shares      Value  

Miscellaneous Manufacturing — 0.4%

  

General Electric Co.

     9,920       $ 257,722   
     

 

 

 
              257,722   
     

 

 

 

Oil & Gas — 4.4%

  

Chevron Corp.

     4,770         617,477   

ConocoPhillips

     7,540         612,399   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

     11,780         1,171,639   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

     590         53,696   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

     1,500         155,595   

Southwestern Energy Co.*

     1,030         42,415   
     

 

 

 
        2,653,221   
     

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals — 11.7%

  

Eli Lilly & Co.

     21,670         1,377,345   

Express Scripts Holding Co.*

     12,000         887,160   

Johnson & Johnson

     5,910         613,044   

Merck & Co., Inc.

     31,500         1,893,465   

Pfizer, Inc.

     37,550         1,103,595   

Zoetis, Inc.

     33,930         1,202,479   
     

 

 

 
        7,077,088   
     

 

 

 

Pipelines — 2.7%

  

Spectra Energy Corp.

     37,480         1,561,417   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

     1,260         74,894   
     

 

 

 
        1,636,311   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts — 3.9%

  

American Tower Corp.

     1,240         122,264   

Apartment Investment & Management Co., Class A

     5,290         181,288   

Crown Castle International Corp.

     1,150         91,437   

General Growth Properties, Inc.

     39,000         958,230   

HCP, Inc.

     1,280         55,462   

Simon Property Group, Inc.

     5,140         873,954   

Washington Prime Group, Inc.

     2,500         48,800   
     

 

 

 
        2,331,435   
     

 

 

 

Retail — 9.7%

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     15,200         1,840,416   

Dollar Tree, Inc.*

     24,450         1,311,131   

Macy’s, Inc.

     4,530         282,174   
     Number         
     of Shares      Value  

Retail — (Continued)

  

McDonald’s Corp.

     11,210       $ 1,050,601   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

     18,170         1,371,835   
     

 

 

 
        5,856,157   
     

 

 

 

Savings & Loans — 0.2%

  

People’s United Financial, Inc.

     8,690         129,916   
     

 

 

 
        129,916   
     

 

 

 

Semiconductors — 2.4%

  

Intel Corp.

     40,920         1,428,926   
     

 

 

 
        1,428,926   
     

 

 

 

Software — 1.9%

  

Fidelity National Information

     

Services, Inc.

     1,360         77,180   

Microsoft Corp.

     19,480         884,976   

Red Hat, Inc.*

     2,570         156,564   
     

 

 

 
        1,118,720   
     

 

 

 

Telecommunications — 5.4%

  

AT&T, Inc.

     42,020         1,469,019   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

     2,420         60,476   

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

     850         50,490   

Verizon Communications, Inc.

     33,880         1,687,902   
     

 

 

 
        3,267,887   
     

 

 

 

Transportation — 1.2%

  

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

     6,650         453,929   

United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B

     2,630         255,978   
     

 

 

 
        709,907   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $52,144,935)

   

     57,721,777   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 95.8%
(Cost $52,144,935)

   

     57,721,777   
     

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES - 4.2%

  

     2,544,510   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.0%

      $     60,266,287   
     

 

 

 

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

8


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2014

 

ASSETS

  

Investments, at value (Cost $52,144,935)

   $ 57,721,777   

Cash

     2,339,043   

Receivables for:

  

Capital shares sold

     205,574   

Dividends

     114,853   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     19,826   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     60,401,073   
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Payables for:

  

Capital shares redeemed

     54,400   

Audit fees

     25,738   

Investment advisory fees

     12,399   

Administration and accounting services fees

     16,757   

Transfer agent fees

     8,056   

Other accrued expenses and liabilities

     17,436   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     134,786   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 60,266,287   
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF

  

Par value

   $ 4,393   

Paid-in capital

     52,321,415   

Undistributed net investment income

     458,940   

Accumulated net realized gain from investments

     1,904,697   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     5,576,842   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 60,266,287   
  

 

 

 

I SHARES:

  

Net Assets applicable to Class I Shares

   $ 60,266,287   
  

 

 

 

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     4,393,274   
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

   $ 13.72   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

9


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Statement of Operations

For the year ended August 31, 2014

INVESTMENT INCOME

  

Dividends and interest

   $ 1,019,748   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     1,019,748   
  

 

 

 

EXPENSES

  

Advisory fees (Note 2)

     320,164   

Administration and accounting services fees (Note 2)

     91,015   

Transfer agent fees (Note 2)

     69,631   

Registration and filing fees

     31,699   

Audit fees

     25,694   

Custodian fees (Note 2)

     15,000   

Legal fees

     13,301   

Printing and shareholder reporting fees

     9,975   

Directors’ and officers’ fees

     8,851   

Other expenses

     33,861   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses before waivers and reimbursements

     619,191   

Less: waivers and reimbursements (Note 2)

     (170,961
  

 

 

 

Net expenses after waivers and reimbursements

     448,230   
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     571,518   
  

 

 

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN FROM INVESTMENTS

  

Net realized gain from:

  

Investments

     2,064,024   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on:

  

Investments

     4,691,346   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

     6,755,370   
  

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

   $ 7,326,888   
  

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

10


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
 

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:

    

Net investment income

   $ 571,518      $ 176,086   

Net realized gain from investments

     2,064,024        540,905   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     4,691,346        788,121   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations.

     7,326,888        1,505,112   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

    

Class I Shares

    

Net investment income

     (250,235     (44,910

Net realized gains

     (668,385     (60,335
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets from dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (918,620     (105,245
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS:

    

Class I Shares

    

Proceeds from shares sold

     33,583,169        25,571,238   

Reinvestment of distributions

     918,422        105,245   

Shares redeemed

     (6,284,602     (5,040,783

Redemption fees

     2,994        21   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     28,219,983        20,635,721   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     34,628,251        22,035,588   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

    

Beginning of Year

     25,638,036        3,602,448   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of Year

   $ 60,266,287      $ 25,638,036   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income, end of period

   $ 458,940      $ 142,225   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:

    

Class I Shares

    

Shares sold

     2,641,785        2,227,473   

Shares reinvested

     74,608        10,248   

Shares redeemed

     (486,015     (428,636
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in shares

     2,230,378        1,809,085   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

11


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Financial Highlights

 

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for shares outstanding, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for the representative periods. This information has been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

     Class I Shares
     For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2014
   For the
Year Ended
August 31, 2013
   For the Period
February 29, 2012 to
August 31, 2012(1)

Per Share Operating Performance

              

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 11.85         $ 10.18         $ 10.00     
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Net investment income(2)

     0.16           0.15           0.08     

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments(3)

     2.01           1.64           0.10     
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total from operations

     2.17           1.79           0.18     
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

              

Net investment income

     (0.08        (0.05            

Net realized gains

     (0.22        (0.07            
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (0.30        (0.12            
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.72         $ 11.85         $ 10.18     
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total investment return(4)

     18.57        17.78        1.80 %(5)   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 60,266         $ 25,638         $ 3,602     

Ratio of expenses to average net assets with waivers and reimbursements

     0.98        0.98        0.98 %(6)   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets without waivers and reimbursements

     1.35        2.74        20.03 %(6)   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets.

     1.25        1.34        1.64 %(6)   

Portfolio turnover rate

     110        81        95 %(5)   

 

(1)

The Fund commenced investment operations on February 29, 2012.

(2)

The selected per share data was calculated based on average shares outstanding method for the period.

(3)

The amount shown may not correlate with the change in the aggregate gains and losses due to the timing of sales and purchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the Fund’s portfolio.

(4)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any.

(5)

Not annualized.

(6)

Annualized.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

12


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2014

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

The RBB Fund, Inc. (“RBB” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on February 29, 1988 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “Investment Company Act”) as an open-end management investment company. RBB is a “series fund,” which is a mutual fund divided into separate portfolios. Each portfolio is treated as a separate entity for certain matters under the Investment Company Act, and for other purposes, and, a shareholder of one portfolio is not deemed to be a shareholder of any other portfolio. Currently, RBB has twenty-three active investment portfolios, including the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (the “Fund”), which commenced investment operations on February 29, 2012. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund offers three classes of shares, Class A Shares, Retail Shares and Class I Shares. As of August 31, 2014, Class A Shares and Retail Shares have not been issued.

RBB has authorized capital of one hundred billion shares of common stock of which 81.973 billion shares are currently classified into one hundred and fifty-two classes of common stock. Each class represents an interest in an active or inactive RBB investment portfolio.

Portfolio Valuation– The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading hours on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open. Securities held by the Fund are valued using the closing price or the last sale price on a national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) market system where they are primarily traded. Equity securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing prices. If there were no transactions on that day, securities traded principally on an exchange or on NASDAQ will be valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices prior to the market close. Investments in other open-end investment companies, if any, are valued based on the NAV of those investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as disclosed in their prospectuses). If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable, securities will be valued in accordance with procedures adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors. Relying on prices supplied by pricing services or dealers or using fair valuation may result in values that are higher or lower than the values used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Fair Value Measurements –The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

     Level 1

 

 

quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

     Level 2

 

 

other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

     Level 3

 

 

significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

13


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used, as of August 31, 2014, in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:

 

         Total Value at
August 31,
2014
     Level 1
Quoted
Price
     Level 2
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

Investments in Securities*

       $57,721,777         $57,721,777       $  —    $  —
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

             

* Please refer to Portfolio of Investments for further details.

At the end of each fiscal quarter, management evaluates the classification of Levels 1, 2 and 3 assets and liabilities. Various factors are considered, such as changes in liquidity from the prior reporting period; whether or not a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price; the depth and consistency of prices from third party pricing services; and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the classification of Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) require the Fund to present a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported market values that presents changes attributable to total realized and unrealized gains or losses, purchase and sales, and transfers in and out of Level 3 during the period. Transfers in and out between Levels are based on values at the end of the period. U.S. GAAP also requires the Fund to disclose amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented only when the Fund had an amount of Level 3 investments at the end of the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets. The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each Level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period.

For the year ended August 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Fund.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.

Investment Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses — The Fund records security transactions based on trade date for financial reporting purposes. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method for both financial reporting and income tax purposes in determining realized gains and losses on investments. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received on securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain. The Fund’s policy is to allocate investment income, expenses and unrealized and realized gains and losses among classes on a daily basis, when applicable. Expenses incurred on behalf of a specific class, fund or fund family are charged directly to the class, fund or fund family to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of the day. Expenses incurred for all the RBB funds (such as director or professional fees) are charged to all funds in proportion to their average net assets of RBB, or in such other manner as the Company’s Board of Directors deems fair or equitable. Expenses and fees, including investment advisory and administration fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for the purpose of determining the NAV of the Fund.

 

14


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly. Net realized capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually. Income dividends and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

U.S. Tax Status — No provision is made for U.S. income taxes as it is the Fund’s intention to qualify for and elect the tax treatment applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and make the requisite distributions to its shareholders which will be sufficient to relieve it from U.S. income and excise taxes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Fund considers liquid assets deposited into a bank demand deposit account to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.

Redemption Fees — The Fund retains a redemption fee of 1.50% on redemptions of Fund shares held less than 60 days. The fees are reflected on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. The Fund reserves the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fees or waivers at any time.

Other — In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future, and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

2. Investment Adviser and Other Services

Summit Global Investments, LLC (“Summit” or the “Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. For its advisory services, the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly fee from the Fund calculated at an annual rate of 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Summit has contractually agreed to waive its management fees and/or reimburse expenses, to the extent that total annual operating expenses (excluding certain items discussed below) exceed 1.23% of the average daily net assets for Class A Shares and Retail Shares and 0.98% of the average daily net assets for Class I Shares. In determining Summit’s obligation to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account: acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary items, interest or taxes. This contractual limitation is in effect until December 31, 2014 and may not be terminated before December 31, 2014 without approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. If at any time during the three years from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016 in which the advisory agreement is in effect, the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for that year are less than 1.23% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class A Shares or Retail Shares or less than 0.98% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Class I Shares, the Adviser is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the advisory fees forgone and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund during such three-year period. For the year ended August 31, 2014, investment advisory fees accrued were $320,164, of which $170,961 were waived by the Adviser. As of August 31, 2014, the amounts available for recoupment were $215,828 and $106,429 expiring in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) serves as administrator for the Fund. For providing administrative and accounting services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee equal to an annual percentage rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimum monthly fees.

 

15


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

August 31, 2014

 

Included in the administration and accounting service fees, shown on the Statement of Operations, are fees for providing regulatory administration services to RBB. For providing these services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive compensation as agreed to by the Company and BNY Mellon. This fee is allocated to each portfolio of the Company in proportion to its net assets of the Company.

In addition, BNY Mellon serves as the Fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For providing these transfer agent services, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a monthly fee, subject to certain minimum and out of pocket expenses.

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) provides certain custodial services to the Fund. The Custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee subject to certain minimum monthly and out of pocket expenses.

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC, serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with RBB.

3. Director Compensation

The Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer and meeting fees for meetings attended. The aggregate remuneration paid to the Directors by the Fund during the year ended August 31, 2014 was $8,796. Certain employees of BNY Mellon serve as an Officer or Director of the Company. They are not compensated by the Fund or the Company.

4. Investment in Securities

For the year ended August 31, 2014, aggregate purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) of the Fund were as follows:

 

     Purchases           Sales  

Investment Securities

   $ 74,303,774          $ 47,940,455   

5. Federal Income Tax Information

The Fund has followed the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Fund to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Fund has determined that there was no effect on the financial statements from following this authoritative guidance. In the normal course of business, the Fund is subject to examination by federal, state and local jurisdictions, where applicable, for tax years for which applicable statutes of limitations have not expired.

As of August 31, 2014, the federal tax cost, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Fund were as follows:

 

Federal tax cost

   $ 52,190,913     
  

 

 

   
Gross unrealized appreciation    $ 5,654,198     
Gross unrealized depreciation      (123,334  
  

 

 

   
Net unrealized appreciation    $ 5,530,864     
  

 

 

   

Distributions to shareholders, if any, from net investment income and realized gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements. To the extent these differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on the tax treatment; temporary differences do not require such reclassification.

 

16


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Notes to Financial Statements (Concluded)

August 31, 2014

 

The following permanent differences as of August 31, 2014, primarily attributable to reclassification of dividends received from Real Estate Investment Trust investments among the following accounts:

 

Undistributed

Net Investment

Income

  

Accumulated

Net Realized

Gain/(Loss)

  

Paid-In

Capital

$(4,568)

   $4,568    $—

As of August 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

Ordinary Income

  

Undistributed

Long-Term Gains

  

Net Unrealized

Appreciation

$1,652,595

   $757,020    $5,530,864

The differences between the book and tax basis components of distributable earnings relate primarily to the timing of recognition of income and gains for federal income tax purposes.

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid during the years ended August 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

    

Ordinary

  Income  

  

Long-Term

Gains

  

      Total      

2014

   $834,929    $83,691    $918,620

2013

   $105,245    $        —    $105,245

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”), the Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under the previous law. As of August 31, 2014, the Fund did not have any capital loss carryforwards.

6. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund though the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

17


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (one of the series constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) (the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period February 29, 2012 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2012. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund (one of the series constituting The RBB Fund, Inc.) at August 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period February 29, 2012 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 29, 2014

 

18


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Shareholder Tax Information

(Unaudited)

Certain tax information is required to be provided to shareholders based upon the Fund’s income and distributions for the taxable year ended August 31, 2014. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to the shareholders for the calendar year ending December 31, 2014. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, the Fund paid $834,929 of ordinary income dividends and $83,691 of long-term capital gain dividends to its shareholders. Dividends from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund designates 39.21% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

The percentage of ordinary income dividends paid qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction is 39.91%.

The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distributions as qualified short-term gain pursuant to the American Job Creation Act of 2004.

Because the Fund’s fiscal year is not the calendar year, another notification will be sent with respect to calendar year 2014. The second notification, which will reflect the amount, if any, to be used by calendar year taxpayers on their U.S. federal income tax returns, will be made in conjunction with Form 1099-DIV and will be mailed in January 2015.

Foreign shareholders will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax on the amount of their ordinary income dividends. They will generally not be entitled to a foreign tax credit or deduction for the withholding taxes paid by the Fund, if any.

In general, dividends received by tax-exempt recipients (e.g., IRAs and Keoghs) need not be reported as taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, some retirement trusts (e.g., corporate, Keogh and 403(b)(7) plans) may need this information for their annual information reporting.

Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investment in the Fund.

 

19


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Other Information

(Unaudited)

Proxy Voting

Policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities as well as information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent six-month period ended June 30 are available without charge, upon request, by calling (855) 744-8500 and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedules

The Company will file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (quarters ended November 30 and May 31) on Form N-Q. The Company’s Forms N-Q will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement

As required by the 1940 Act, the Board of the Company, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Company, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act (the “Independent Directors”), considered the renewal of the investment advisory agreement between Summit and the Company (the “Advisory Agreement”) on behalf of the Fund at a meeting of the Board held on May 13, 2014 (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term. The Board’s decision to approve the Advisory Agreement reflects the exercise of its business judgment to continue the existing arrangement. In approving the Advisory Agreement, the Board considered information provided by the Adviser with the assistance and advice of counsel to the Independent Directors and the Company.

In considering the renewal of and approval of the Advisory Agreement between the Company and Summit with respect to the Fund, the Directors took into account all the materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. Among other things, the Directors considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of Summit’s services provided to the Fund; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of Summit’s personnel providing those services; (iii) Summit’s investment philosophies and processes; (iv) Summit’s assets under management and client descriptions; (v) Summit’s soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, including information on the types of research and services obtained in connection with soft dollar commissions; (vi) Summit’s current advisory fee arrangement with the Company and other similarly managed clients; (vii) Summit’s compliance procedures; (viii) Summit’s financial information, insurance coverage and profitability analysis related to providing advisory services to the Fund; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Fund; (x) a report prepared by Lipper/Thompson Reuters (“Lipper”) comparing the Fund’s management fees and total expense ratio to those of its Lipper peer group and comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its Lipper peer group; and (xi) a report comparing the performance of the Fund to the performance of its benchmark.

As part of their review, the Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by Summit. The Directors concluded that Summit had substantial resources to provide services to the Fund and that Summit’s services had been acceptable.

The Directors also considered the investment performance of the Fund and Summit. Information on the Fund’s investment performance was provided for the year-to-date, one-year and since inception periods ended March 31, 2014. The Directors considered the Fund’s investment performance in light of its investment objective and investment strategies. The Directors noted that the investment performance of the Fund as compared to its benchmark was higher for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, and lower for the one-year period and since inception. The Directors also considered the Fund’s investment performance as compared to its Lipper peer group for the one- and two-year periods ended February 28, 2014, noting the Fund had underperformed the Lipper performance group median.

 

20


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Other Information (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

The Directors also considered the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement. In this regard, information on the fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (before and after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment advisory firms. The Directors noted that the advisory fees of the Fund, before and after waivers, were lower than the peer group median and the actual total expenses of the Fund were slightly above the median of the peer group. In addition, the Directors noted that Summit has contractually agreed to limit total annual operating expenses to 0.98% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least December 31, 2014 and that Summit expects to continue these fee waivers and expense reimbursements. The Directors also considered Summit’s profitability and overall firm-wide assets which totaled approximately $156 million.

After reviewing the information regarding the Fund’s costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering Summit’s services, the Directors concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Fund were fair and reasonable and that the Advisory Agreement should be approved and continued for an additional one-year period ending August 16, 2015.

 

21


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Company Management

(Unaudited)

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company is organized under and managed pursuant to Maryland law. The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling (855) 744-8500.

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time  Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

During Past 5

Years

 

DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS

Julian A. Brodsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/33

 

Director

  1988 to present       Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.   23   AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies).

J. Richard Carnall

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 9/38

  Director   2002 to present       Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.   23   None

Gregory P. Chandler

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 12/66

  Director   2012 to present       Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).   23   Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

Nicholas A. Giordano

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/43

  Director   2006 to present       Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.   23   Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds; (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012); Independence Blue Cross; Intricon Corp. (producer of medical devices).

 

22


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Company Management (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time  Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

During Past 5

Years

Arnold M. Reichman

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 5/48

 

 

Chairman Director

  2005 to present     1991 to present       Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.   23   None

Robert A. Straniere

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 3/41

 

  Director   2006 to present       Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group.   23   Reich and Tang Group (asset management).
         

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time  Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

During Past 5

Years

 

INTERESTED DIRECTORS 2

Jay F. Nusblatt

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/61

 

Director

  2012 to present   Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.   23   None

Robert Sablowsky

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 4/38

 

  Director   1991 to present  

Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

  23   None

 

23


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Company Management (Concluded)

(Unaudited)

 

Name, Address,

and Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held

with Company

  Term of Office
and Length of
Time  Served 1
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund  Complex
Overseen by
Director*
 

Other

Directorships

Held

by Director

During Past 5

Years

 

OFFICERS

Salvatore Faia, JD, CPA, CFE

Vigilant Compliance Services

Brandywine Two

5 Christy Drive, Suite 208

Chadds Ford, PA 19317

DOB: 12/62

  President and Chief Compliance Officer   President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present   President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.   N/A   N/A

Joel Weiss

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 1/63

  Treasurer   2009 to present   Since 1993, Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Diana Drake

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 7/67

  Secretary   2014 to present   Since 2010, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company); Vice President and Counsel, PNC Global Investment Servicing from 2008-2010.   N/A   N/A

James G. Shaw

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

DOB: 10/60

  Assistant Treasurer   2005 to present   Since 1995, Senior Director and Vice President, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).   N/A   N/A

Michael P. Malloy

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

DOB: 7/59

  Assistant Secretary   1999 to present   Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm).   N/A   N/A

 

*

Each Director oversees twenty three portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

1 

Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal. The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director. The Board has approved waivers of the policy with respect to Messrs, Brodsky, Carnall, and Sablowsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed..

 

2 

Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.” Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

24


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

FACTS    WHAT DOES THE SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS U.S LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND DO WITH
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
   

Why?

   Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
   

What?

  

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

    Social Security number

     account balances

     account transactions

     transaction history

     wire transfer instructions

     checking account information

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

   

How?

   All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your information    Does the Summit Global     Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund Share?    Can you limit this sharing?
     

For our everyday business purpose —

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

   Yes    No
     

For our marketing purposes —

to offer our products and services to you

   Yes    No
     

For joint marketing with other financial companies

   Yes    No
     

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes —

information about your transactions and experiences

   Yes    No
     

For affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your creditworthiness

   No    We don’t share
     

For our affiliates to market to you

   No    We don’t share
     

For nonaffiliates to market to you

   No    We don’t share

 

   

Questions?

   Call 1-888-251-4847 or go to www.summitglobalinvestments.com

 

25


SUMMIT GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

U.S. LOW VOLATILITY EQUITY FUND

Privacy Notice

(Unaudited)

 

What we do

 

   

How does the Summit Global     Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund protect my personal information?

 

  To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

 

How does the Summit Global     Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund collect my personal information?

 

 

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

      open an account

      provide account information

     give us your contact information

     make a wire transfer

      tell us where to send the money

We also collect your information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

 

 

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

 

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

      sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about yourcreditworthiness

     affiliates from using your information to market to you

      sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

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

 

Definitions

 

   

Affiliates

 

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

   Our affiliates include Summit Global Investments, LLC, the investment adviser to the Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund.

 

Nonaffiliates

 

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

   Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

 

Joint marketing

 

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

   Summit Global Investments U.S. Low Volatility Equity Fund may share your information with
other financial institutions with whom they have joint marketing arrangements who may suggest additional fund services or other investments products which may be of interest to you. We do
not currently have any joint marketing arrangements with other financial institutions.

 

 

26


Investment Adviser

Summit Global Investments, LLC

620 South Main Street

Bountiful, UT 84010

Administrator

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Transfer Agent

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Principal Underwriter

Foreside Funds Distributors LLC

400 Berwyn Park

899 Cassatt Road

Berwyn, PA 19312

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

One Wall Street

New York, NY 10286

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, Suite 700

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Legal Counsel

Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

  (a)

The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.

 

  (c)

There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description.

 

  (d)

The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s board of directors has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. Julian A. Brodsky, Gregory P. Chandler and Nicholas A. Giordano are the registrant’s audit committee financial experts and each of them is “independent.”


Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Audit Fees

 

  (a)

The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were:

 

     Fiscal Year  

2014          

   Fiscal Year 2013  

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

   $231,633    $173,916

Ernst & Young LLP

   $353,325    $286,625

BBD LLP

   $15,000    $0

Aggregate Fees

   $599,958    $460,541

Audit-Related Fees

 

  (b)

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for 2014 and $0 for 2013.

Tax Fees

 

  (c)

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were:

 

     Fiscal Year 2014  
   Fiscal Year 2013  

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

   $21,600    $0

Ernst & Young LLP

   $39,485    $45,198.65

BBD LLP

   $0    $0

Aggregate Fees

   $63,085    $45,198.65

These fees were for the review of excise tax returns and passive foreign investment company (PFICs) analysis and tax compliance related services.


All Other Fees

 

  (d)

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for 2014 and $0 for 2013.

 

  (e)(1)

Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph
(c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

Pre-Approval of Audit and Permitted Non-Audit Services

 

  1.

Pre-Approval Requirements of the Company. The Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and permissible non-audit services (e.g., tax services) to be provided to the Company by the Auditor, including the fees associated with those services.

 

  2.

Pre-Approval Requirements of Affiliates. Additionally, the Committee shall pre-approve any engagement of the Auditor to provide non-audit services to an investment adviser of a Portfolio or to any affiliate of such investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Company, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Company.

 

  3.

Delegation. The Committee may delegate to the Chairman of the Committee, or if the Chairman is not available, one or more of its members, the authority to grant pre-approvals. The decisions of any member to whom authority is delegated shall be presented to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

 

  4.

Prohibited Services. The Committee shall confirm with the Auditor that the Auditor is not performing contemporaneously with the Company’s audit any prohibited non-audit services for the Company, any investment adviser of a Portfolio, or any affiliates of the Company or such investment advisers. The Auditor is responsible for informing the Committee of whether it believes that a particular service is permissible or prohibited pursuant to applicable regulations and standards.

 

  (e)(2)

The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows:

 

  (b)

Not Applicable

 

  (c)

100%

 

  (d)

Not Applicable

 

  (f)

The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%.


  (g)

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were:

 

     Fiscal Year  

2014

     Fiscal Year 2013     

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

   $13,206,393      $0   

Ernst & Young LLP

   $85,000      $84,500   

BBD LLP

   $0      $0   

Aggregate Fees

   $13,291,393      $84,500   

 

  (h)

Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)

Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.


Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a)

The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

  (b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

  (a)(1)

Senior Officer Code of Ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.

 

  (a)(2)

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

  (a)(3)

Not applicable.

 

  (b)

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

(12.other)    Not applicable.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)    The RBB Fund, Inc.                                                                                                  

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Salvatore Faia                                                                               

 

      Salvatore Faia, President

 

      (principal executive officer)

Date    11/7/2014                                                                                                                               

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Salvatore Faia                                                                                

 

      Salvatore Faia, President

 

      (principal executive officer)

Date    11/7/2014                                                                                                                               

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Joel Weiss                                                                                       

 

      Joel Weiss, Treasurer

 

      (principal financial officer)

Date    11/7/2014                                                                                                                               

 

* 

Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.